Variety reports that an anonymous actress has accused director Luc Besson of committing a “violent sexual assault” against her. The actress—who’s asked that her name not be revealed to the press—has apparently worked with the Valerian and Lucy director on at least two occasions. Earlier today, Variety confirmed with the woman that she’d filed a complaint with French police about the incident, which allegedly took place on May 10. Police have declined to comment, while Besson’s camp has already issued a statement on the accusations, saying that the director “categorically denied all the accusations made against him.”
French film culture was served a powerful reminder of the #MeToo movement earlier today, when actress Asia Argento bluntly told the assembled crowd at the Cannes Film Festival’s closing ceremony that she was raped by Harvey Weinstein while attending the festival in 1997. (She also called the film fest the former Weinstein Co. head’s “hunting ground.”) When asked, shortly after her speech, about the accusation against Besson, Argento said she’s known about allegations of similar conduct against him “for eight months.”