Asia Argento Accuses Director Rob Cohen Of Sexual Assault While On Film Set

Actress Asia Argento has accused Rob Cohen, director of the movie xXx, of sexually assaulting her while they worked on the 2002 film.

Argento was one of the first to speak out against Harvey Weinstein in 2017, which sparked the beginning of the #MeToo Movement. She made these allegations in an interview with an Italian magazine Corriere Della Serra on Friday.

“This is the first time I’m speaking about Cohen,” Argento stated, in Italian. “It happened in 2002 while we shot xXx. He abused me by making me drink GHB, he had a bottle.”

GHB is commonly referred to as the “date rape drug,” causing those who consume it to lose consciousness.

“At that time, I honestly didn’t know what [GHB] was. I woke naked in his bed in the morning.”

Cohen has since denied the allegations.

“Mr. Cohen categorically denies Asia Argento’s accusation of assault against him as absolutely false. When they worked together, they had an excellent working relationship and Mr. Cohen considered her a friend, so this claim dating back to 2002 is bewildering, especially given what has been reported about her in recent years.”

The comment referred to 2018 allegations made by actor Jimmy Bennett against Argento of sexually assaulting him on the set of a film while she was 37 and he was 17. While Argento did pay a large sum to Bennett, she claims that it was just to avoid negative press.

Cohen had also previously been accused of sexually assaulting an unconscious woman, according to a report in a 2019 Hollywood Reporter article. Cohen had denied these allegations, as well.