Los Angeles, Aug 28 (IANS): Actress-activist Rose McGowan, in a statement following sexual assault allegations waged against Asia Argento, said her friendship with Argento will not prevent her from advocating for victims.

McGowan released a lengthy statement on Monday, detailing how she discovered that Argento had reportedly paid off actor Jimmy Bennett, who claims Argento, then 37, assaulted him when he was 17, reported variety.com.

McGowan says her partner, Rain Dove, told her that Argento admitted to sleeping with Bennett.

Argento also allegedly told Dove that she had been receiving "unsolicited" nude photos of Bennett since he was 12 years old, but had not taken action to stop Bennett from sending more.

The #MeToo movement pioneer said she is not "affiliated with this incident or being complicit" about the New York Times expose which claimed that Argento reached a $380,000 settlement with Bennett late last year, months after Argento -- like McGowan -- came forward with allegations of rape against Harvey Weinstein.

She said her friendship with Argento will not prevent her from advocating for victims like Bennett, variety.com reported.

"It's sad to lose a friend connection, but whats even more sad is what happened to Jimmy Bennet. Whether or not the extortion case is true- it wasna¿t fair and it wasn't right. It is the type of thing I fight against alongside so many.

"There absolutely should be no leeway or tolerance for sexual assault," McGowan said.

In a plea to Argento to simply "do the right thing", she said: "Be the person you wish Harvey could have been."