CNN Yanks Episodes of Anthony Bourdain’s ‘Parts Unknown’ Featuring Asia Argento

Zachary Stieber
9/3/2018
Updated:
9/3/2018

Episodes of Anthony Bourdain’s hit television series “Parts Unknown” featuring his girlfriend at the time of his death, Asia Argento, have disappeared from CNN’s streaming platform.

Argento was featured in two episodes of the show.

Both are no longer available on CNN Go, the company’s streaming platform, and will also not be included in syndication.

“In light of the recent news reports about Asia Argento, CNN will discontinue airing past episodes of ‘Parts Unknown’ that included her, until further notice,” a spokesperson for the network told Fox News.

Argento Accused of Paying Off Teenager

Actor and musician Jimmy Bennett came forward recently to accuse Asia Argento of having consensual sex with him when he was 17 and she was 37.

Bennett was seeking $3.5 million for the intentional infliction of emotional distress, lost wages, assault, and battery, according to a letter of intent to sue.

The age of consent in California, where the alleged encounter took place, is 18.

Bennett grew up knowing Argento, after playing her son in the 2004 film “The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things” when he was seven years old.

Documents sent to the New York Times showed that Bennett intended to sue Argento but they reached an agreement in April 2018 that had Argento pay Bennett $380,000.
Law enforcement sources told TMZ that Argento is not being investigated for allegedly breaking the law. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is not going to investigate Argento since Bennett is now 22, a source said.
Argento denied having a sexual relationship with Bennett in a statement obtained by journalist Yashar Ali, while stating that it was Anthony Bourdain who decided to pay off Bennett.

“Anthony was afraid of the possible negative publicity that such person, whom he considered dangerous, could have brought upon us,” she said. “We decided to deal compassionately with Bennett’s demand for help and give it to him. Anthony personally undertook to help Bennett economically, upon the condition that we would no longer suffer any further intrusions in our life.”

Chef and television personality Anthony Bourdain arrives at the 65th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., September 15, 2013. (Reuters/Jonathan Alcorn/File Photo)
Chef and television personality Anthony Bourdain arrives at the 65th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., September 15, 2013. (Reuters/Jonathan Alcorn/File Photo)

‘Parts Unknown’ Final Season

Bourdain was found dead in his hotel room in France in June from a reported suicide. He was 61 years old.
Despite his death, CNN announced that a final season of “Parts Unknown” will air in fall 2018. It’s the most popular CNN Original Series program.

Executives said comments have been pouring in from viewers praising the show and Bourdain for helping open their eyes to a different way of traveling.

“People said, ‘I was afraid to travel before I watched the show,’ ‘I followed his route,’ ‘I was an addict and I connected with Tony and now I’m fine,’” Amy Entelis, the executive vice president of talent and content at CNN, who helped launch the show in 2013, told the Los Angeles Times.

“Others were angry that he’s not in the world anymore. It’s an incredible outpouring. A lot of people are experiencing what we are.”

From NTD.tv