In 1997, Italian actress Asia Argento attended the world’s most prestigious film festival.
There, she alleges, Harvey Weinstein raped her.
Argento was one of the first women to speak out against Weinstein last year, alongside former Charmed star Rose McGowan.
This year she returned to the Cannes Film Festival, a place she refers to as Weinstein’s “hunting ground”.
During Saturday night’s award ceremony, she gave a jaw-dropping speech which left the A-lister crowd stunned.
“In 1997, I was raped by Harvey Weinstein here at Cannes,” she began while presenting the best actress award alongside Ava DuVernay.
“I was 21 years old. This festival was his hunting ground.”
Argento then acknowledged the tide had finally turned for Weinstein.
“I want to make a prediction. Harvey Weinstein will never be welcomed here ever again,” she said.
“He will live in disgrace, shunned by a film community that embraced him and covered up for his crimes.”
The actress, now 42, then took aim at some of the men in the room.
“And even tonight, sitting among you, there are those who still have to be held accountable for their conduct against women,” she said.
“For behaviour that does not belong in this industry, does not belong in any industry or any workplace. You know who you are. You do not belong in this industry. But most importantly, we know who you are, and we’re not going to allow you to get away with it any longer.”
The audience sat in stunned silence as she spoke.
Argento was one of the women who came forward in Ronan Farrow’s New Yorker article, which led to a slew of allegations against the Hollywood producer.
While Cannes has now implemented a sexual harassment hotline, the festival has been criticised for its slow response to the #MeToo movement.
As Argento finished her speech the crowd erupted into a loud round of applause.
