NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Entertainment

Asia Argento 'sent unwanted topless video to recovering sex addict'

By Chris Spargo
Daily Mail·
25 Aug, 2018 12:11 AM4 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Jeff Leach said on the podcast Legion of Skanks that Asia Argento (pictured) sent him a video of herself topless. Photo / Getty Images

Jeff Leach said on the podcast Legion of Skanks that Asia Argento (pictured) sent him a video of herself topless. Photo / Getty Images

A British comedian who had a friendship with Asia Argento claims the actress sent him at least one unsolicited topless video.

Jeff Leach was appearing on the Legion of Skanks podcast when he shared this story during a discussion about the arrest of Harvey Weinstein just days prior on charges of rape and assault.

"That girl sent me pictures of her t*****s on Snapchat when I was with my girlfriend,' said Leach back in June, reports Daily Mail.

"She knew I was with my girlfriend and we were friends and she sends me this video with her t*** out, like: 'Hey Jeff.' And I just replied: 'You cant send me that s***.'"

Leach said Argento was aware that he had a girlfriend at the time, while the actress was recently divorced from the father of her son, Michele Civetta.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

He also said she "flipped out" when he chided her for sending the video, at a time when he had been trying to gain control over a sex addiction he once told the BBC led him to sleep with over 300 women by the age of 27.

A rep for Argento and Leach did not return requests for comment.

Leach went on to say that he was not in favor of Argento being one of the major faces of the #MeToo movement because of her actions.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Jeff Leach (in 2012) said on the podcast Legion of Skanks that Asia Argento sent him a video of herself topless knowing he had a girlfriend. Photo / Getty Images
Jeff Leach (in 2012) said on the podcast Legion of Skanks that Asia Argento sent him a video of herself topless knowing he had a girlfriend. Photo / Getty Images

"I think of the irony of someone complaining about unwanted sexual attention and then doing the exact same thing," explained Leach.

"She was like, 'I do it to my all my friends they know its not sexual,' and I was like, 'Get f***ed. You know if my girlfriend saw it she wouldn't like this s***.'"

He was also quick to point out that this in no way impacted the validity of Argento's claims.

"I'm not saying she hasn't been assaulted or hurt by bad people but maybe [she and Rose McGowan] are not the best f***ing spokespeople for it."

Discover more

Entertainment

Actress who accused Weinstein of sex assault pays off male actor over sex claims

20 Aug 02:50 AM
Entertainment

Rose McGowan 'heartbroken' over Asia Argento sexual assault allegations

20 Aug 08:38 PM
Entertainment

Asia Argento 'admits she did have sex' with 17-year-old

22 Aug 09:01 PM
Opinion

Bridget Wilson: Sex addiction is real and can be helped

27 Aug 05:00 PM

The podcast in which Leach said all this was released on June 2, a week before the tragic suicide of Argento's boyfriend Anthony Bourdain.

Argento posted a number of other videos tagging Leach on her social media accounts, including one of herself laying in bed said saying: "Whenever I have a glass of wine I listen to Bobby Vinton."

In another she does what she calls a "Jeff Leach impersonation," in which she lies in bed and says: "Started from the bottom."

She then stands up on the bed and states: "Now we here."

And a video sent from a Walt Disney park to Leach shows Argento looking at a statue of the company's founder and stating: "How do you know Walt Disney is a Nazi? The salute!"

Leach is a longtime advocate for victim's rights, and in a 2015 Vine actually confronted photographer Terry Richardson on the streets of New York.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
At the time, Leach was beginning the process of treating a sex addiction that he once told the BBC led him to sleep with over 300 women by the age of 27. (Asia Argento in 2017). Photo / Instagram
At the time, Leach was beginning the process of treating a sex addiction that he once told the BBC led him to sleep with over 300 women by the age of 27. (Asia Argento in 2017). Photo / Instagram

"Someone had to have the balls to tell @Terry_World #TerryRichardson what a rapey creep he is," said Leach.

"I hope I ruined his day like how he ruined so many underage models' lives. Guess he had shit to do on the rapecycle so he didn't stay to chat. #NYC."

Richardson has denied the allegations against him and never been charged with a crime.

Leach has also been open about his own struggles with sex addiction.

His friendship with Argento began around the time of her alleged assault of underage actor Jimmy Bennett.

Argento denied allegations she had sex with the boy, but text messages purported to be from her that were obtained by TMZ show a woman claiming to be the actress admitting the two had intercourse.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Bennett meanwhile released a statement on Wednesday saying that he came forward when Argento went public with her own allegations against Harvey Weinstein.

"Many brave women and men have spoken out about their own experiences during the #metoo movement, and I appreciate the bravery that it took for each and every one of them to take such a stand," said Bennett.

"I did not initially speak out about my story because I chose to handle it in private with the person who wronged me. My trauma resurfaced as she came out as a victim herself."

He continued: "I have not made a public statement in the past days and hours because I was ashamed and afraid to be part of the public narrative."

Meanwhile, Bennett's lawyer Gordon Sattro told DailyMail.com that the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department has been in contact to discuss the incident.

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Entertainment

Entertainment

Why Kevin Costner says he'll never stop working

16 Jun 05:33 AM
Entertainment

Bruce Willis’ wife pens emotional Father’s Day tribute

16 Jun 04:51 AM
Entertainment

Soul rock icon Lenny Kravitz announces debut NZ show

16 Jun 12:36 AM

It was just a stopover – 18 months later, they call it home

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Entertainment

Why Kevin Costner says he'll never stop working

Why Kevin Costner says he'll never stop working

16 Jun 05:33 AM

The Hollywood star is 70 but has no plans to retire from acting.

Bruce Willis’ wife pens emotional Father’s Day tribute

Bruce Willis’ wife pens emotional Father’s Day tribute

16 Jun 04:51 AM
Soul rock icon Lenny Kravitz announces debut NZ show

Soul rock icon Lenny Kravitz announces debut NZ show

16 Jun 12:36 AM
William Dart review: How Auckland Philharmonia captivated with Handel and Tippett

William Dart review: How Auckland Philharmonia captivated with Handel and Tippett

15 Jun 05:00 PM
Sponsored: Embrace the senses
sponsored

Sponsored: Embrace the senses

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP