Asia Argento is now seeking "substantial damages" from Rose McGowan, after threatening her with legal action this week.
The 42-year-old actress was accused last month of paying Jimmy Bennett $380,000 in a settlement after he claimed she sexually assaulted him in 2013 when he was just 17 years old, and fellow actress Rose – who had become friends with Asia after they both accused Harvey Weinstein of sexual misconduct – later said she was "heartbroken" by the alleged scandal.
On Monday (17.09.18), Asia threatened the former ‘Charmed’ star with legal action unless she apologised for the "horrendous lies" Rose allegedly told about her in regard to the case, and on Tuesday (18.09.18), she claimed she was pressing ahead with the lawsuit.
Asia wrote on Twitter: "To @rosemcgowan. The 24hr deadline given to retract your recent false statements about me has now passed. I must inform you & @raindovemodel that I’ve instructed Mishcon de Reya to seek substantial damages for deception, fraud, coercion and libel. You will hear from them shortly. (sic)"
In her original threat, Asia gave Rose, 45, 24 hours to remove the statement she tweeted last month – in which she urged her friend to be "honest" about the allegations against her – or face "immediate" legal action.
She wrote: "Dear @RoseMcGowan. It is with genuine regret that I am giving you 24 hours to retract and apologise for the horrendous lies made against me in your statement of August 27th. If you fail to address this libel I will have no option other than to take immediate legal action. (sic)"
Rose’s statement claimed that Asia had confessed to sleeping with Jimmy in texts sent to Rose’s girlfriend Rain Dove, and alleged Asia "had stated that she’d been receiving unsolicited nudes of Jimmy since he had been 12."
She added: "Asia you were my friend. I loved you. You’ve spent and risked a lot to stand with the MeToo movement. I really hope you find your way through this process to rehabilitation and betterment. Anyone can be be better- I hope you can be, too. Do the right thing. Be honest. Be fair. Let justice stay its course. Be the person you wish Harvey could have been."
Rose later urged her girlfriend to go to the police about the alleged text exchange.
Asia Argento seeking ‘damages’ from Rose McGowan
