celebrity kids

The man accusing Asia Argento of sexual misconduct when he was 17 years old says he chose to keep the event private because he was afraid and ashamed to have his story heard.

In a statement to The New York Times, Jimmy Bennett says, "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. 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."

He continues, "At the time I believed there was still a stigma to being in the situation as a male in our society. I didn't think that people would understand the event that took place from the eyes of a teenage boy. I would like to move past this event in my life, and today I choose to move forward, no longer in silence."

We broke the story ... a photo of Argento and Bennett in bed together -- shirtless -- suggests the 2 had a sexual relationship, along with several text messages between Asia and a friend in which she flat-out admits she had sex with him.

The bed photo is one of 4 that Bennett, now 22 years old, took in a Marina del Rey hotel room back in 2013. Sources tell us the pic was taken after the 2 had intercourse. It's a crime in California for an adult to have sex with a person under 18 ... and Asia was 37 at the time.

However, Argento released a statement Tuesday saying, "I have never had any sexual relationship with Bennett" ... but claims Bennett was litigious and made exorbitant money demands, so she settled with him for $380,000.

Her boyfriend, Anthony Bourdain, paid Bennett the money because Asia says they wanted to "no longer suffer any further intrusions in our life."

In the text messages to her friend, though ... Asia admits to sex with Bennett but claims she didn't know he was a minor until he sent a "shakedown letter." She adds ... "it wasn't raped (sic) but I was frozen. He was on top of me. After, he told me I had been his sexual fantasy since was 12."

It's true what they say ... the apple doesn't fall far from the tree 'cause Bristol Palin's son has officially gone Hollywood.

Bristol's 9-year-old son, Tripp, will make his reality TV debut on "Dancing with the Stars: Juniors" and he's in line to bring in a boat load of money if his rhythm's on point ... this according to his minor's contract, obtained by TMZ.

Just like Honey Boo Boo and Scottie Pippen's kid ... Tripp will get paid $50k just for signing up to do the show. He can make a ton of cash if he survives and up to $130k total if he makes it to the finale. BTW ... Stevie Wonder's son, Mandla Morris, is also joining the cast. The kid's got music in his blood, so watch out.

For all her railing against the Hollywood elite, it seems Sarah Palin's daughter and grandson sure love the dough and attention that's gonna come with it. TMZ broke the story ... Bristol is joining MTV's "Teen Mom OG" as its newest cast member. It appears she's replacing Farrah Abraham.

According to Tripp's contract, he's allowed to appear in episodes of Teen Mom while competing on DWTS.

Asia Argento says she did not have sex with then 17-year-old Jimmy Bennett, but a photo and various text messages between Argento and a friend tell a very different story ... she flat-out says she had sex with him.

This is one of 4 photos Bennett, now 22, took in a Marina del Rey hotel room back in 2013. The then 37-year-old Argento and Bennett are on a bed shirtless, their heads on a pillow and their arms entangled. Sources tell TMZ the pic was taken after the 2 had intercourse. It's a crime in California for an adult to have sex with a person under 18.

Bennett later threatened legal action and, in April, Argento settled with him for $380,000 ... which her boyfriend, Anthony Bourdain, paid.

Argento released a statement Tuesday, saying, "I have never had any sexual relationship with Bennett."

Above are partial text exchanges between Argento and one of her friends. Argento and the friend went back and forth in the midst of the backlash from the New York Times story that ran Sunday about her and Bennett. Argento's messages are in grey ... her friend's are in blue.

Argento says Bennett wrote this note (above) on Ritz-Carlton stationary -- the hotel where they hooked up -- and said, "Asia, I love you with all my heart. So glad we met again and I'm so glad your in my life. Jimmy." She texts her friend the note, saying, "He wrote me this afterwards and kept sending me unsolicited nudes all these years up until 2 weeks before the attorneys letter.

She goes on to say ... "it wasn't raped (sic) but I was frozen. He was on top of me. After, he told me I had been his sexual fantasy since was 12."

Argento has accused Harvey Weinstein of rape and is one of the first women to come forward in the #MeToo movement. Weinstein's lawyer, Ben Brafman, lashed out earlier in the week, saying, "This development reveals a stunning level of hypocrisy by Asia Argento, one of the most vocal catalysts who sought to destroy Harvey Weinstein."

As we reported, the L.A. County Sheriff's Dept. is reaching out to Bennett to determine if a criminal investigation is warranted.

A 37-year-old Asia Argento snuggled with then-17-year-old Jimmy Bennett on a bed, shirtless, their foreheads pressed together, her arm over his as they lay with satisfied smiles ... that is the photo that Asia paid $380,000 for -- a photo TMZ has now seen.

The photo was taken on May 9, 2013 in a room at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Marina del Rey, California. Our sources say the selfie was shot by Jimmy after the 2 had sex. Jimmy claimed Asia liquored him up, began kissing him, pushed him onto the bed, performed oral sex on him and then climbed on top of him and had intercourse ... this according to documents obtained by the New York Times.

The photo is not overtly sexual, however a casual observer would clearly conclude it looks like a post-sex pic as the 2 faintly smiled while they lay on a shared pillow.

Asia -- who is one of the first alleged victims to come forward claiming Harvey Weinstein raped her -- has not been reachable since the recent story broke. What's interesting ... she still has up the Instagram pictures of her at the Ritz-Carlton that day ... saying in one photo, "Waiting for my long lost son my love."

We also have information as to why Asia did not have Jimmy sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) in return for paying $380k. Fact is, she couldn't, because in California confidentiality agreements are not enforceable when they involve allegations of child sex acts ... even if the victim is now an adult.

Weinstein's lawyer, Ben Brafman, lashed out at Argento, saying it was the height of hypocrisy for her to secretly cut a deal involving her own alleged sexual misconduct at the same time she was going after his client. She settled her case with Jimmy in April.

Kylie Jenner and Travis Scott will have a direct shot at Nicki Minaj during the VMAs ... this after Nicki blasted them for cheating her out of the top spot on the Billboard chart.

The seating chart for Monday night's VMAs plays like some high school drama. Roughly 24 hours after Nicki went nuclear on Travis and Kylie, they'll be sitting within inches of each other at Radio City Music Hall in NYC.

ICYMI, Nicki went off on Travis Sunday, blaming Kylie and her daughter, Stormi, for rocketing Travis to the top of the Billboard Chart with his album, "Astroworld," which came out 2 weeks ago. Nicki's convinced Kylie's strong social media presence is what pushed Travis over the top and firmly believes the No. 1 spot woulda been hers if not for Kylie and Stormi.

Grab ya popcorn.

Don't expect Cardi B to make a triumphant return to rap at the VMAs Monday, 'cause her appearance won't include a performance ... TMZ has learned.

Sources connected to the production tell us Cardi will in fact open the VMAs Monday as has been announced, but she won't be rockin' the mic for MTV. We're told she will either do a monologue or partake in some sort of skit instead.

Many speculated the show would mark Cardi's first musical performance since giving birth to baby Kulture ... but it just ain't happening.

Speaking of Kulture ... we're told she won't be making the trek to the show with mom either.

It's unclear whether or not Cardi's gig will be in the flesh or a pre-taped segment ... but one thing's for sure, fans will finally get their long overdue Cardi fix.

Shaunie O'Neal says life at the ultra-exclusive Crossroads School in L.A. will be a breeze for LeBron James Jr. ... because her son Shareef O'Neal educated the institute on how to deal with a celebrity student.

Shareef transferred into Crossroads after his sophomore year in high school, and Shaunie thinks all the media coverage he got will help Bronny, who as the son of LeBron James will probably get more.

But, it's not just the media ... Shaquille's ex-wife thinks Bronny will also benefit from the fact that the school is now more equipped on how to get superstar offspring ready for college.

"When Baron was there the rules like NCAA rules were so drastically different then they are now, and it was fortunate but unfortunate that they were learning that process with Shareef ... They hadn't had a student athlete on that level since Baron."

BTW -- O'Neal's youngest son Shaqir is also currently at Crossroads, and at 15 he's already 6'3" according to Shaunie.

Gonna be a fun couple of years in Santa Monica (that's the rich-ass neighborhood the school is in).

Angelina Jolie's out and about with the kiddos again, and this time they're hitting up the theater.

Ang and 4 of her 6 kids -- Zahara, Shiloh, Vivienne, and Knox -- were seen in L.A. Saturday heading to see a movie together ... flanked by a couple bodyguards.

Not sure what they're seeing, but they've got some good family options with "Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation," "Christopher Robin" ... or maybe even the hit shark flick "The Meg."

As we reported ... Angelina returned to the U.S. with her children last week after being ordered to do so by a judge in her divorce case with Brad Pitt.

As for the divorce ... it's grown increasingly contentious and hostile the past couple months, so much so that Jolie's lawyer is quitting.

We've also been told Brad's been struggling to maintain a relationship with their 6 kids, with sources claiming she's not helping any.

NHL star Alex Ovechkin is still livin' the dream -- on top of winning his first Stanley Cup ... he's now welcomed his first child to the world.

The Washington Caps' captain is a new dad after his wife, Nastya Ovechkina, gave birth to a son Saturday ... and his name is Sergei Aleksandrovich Ovechkin.

He's reportedly named after Alex's uncle, who died when he was 10.

Ovechkin's kid was born in South Florida, meaning he'll have both Russian and American citizenship.

The Conn Smythe winner took to Instagram to post a pic holding his son's foot and thanking his wife, writing ... "Thank you my girl for the very best day of my life."

Kim Kardashian West is teaching her kids how to live it up in Miami ... which should always include some time spent on a luxury sea vessel.

KKW brought her oldest children -- North and Saint -- onboard Miami mogul David Grutman's yacht Thursday ... and had her finest hot pink, skin-tight Chanel catsuit on to chase 'em around.

North matched her mom with some pink shorts, and Saint looked absolutely adorable rocking a captain's hat.

Also on the yacht were family friends Jonathan Cheban, Larsa Pippen and her daughter Sophia.

Angelina Jolie is not blocking Brad Pitt from seeing their kids, but sources involved in the case say she continues to drive a wedge between them and Brad.

Sources with knowledge of the case claim Angelina continues to exert influence over the former couple's 6 kids ... and it's been effective. We're told Brad is having trouble connecting with his children ... some of whom don't even want to see him.

We're told the 3 boys are the ones who have been influenced the most. The girls are more open toward Brad.

The divorce judge issued a report criticizing Angelina for not allowing the children to properly interact with their dad. The judge laid down a cell phone policy in which Brad can call and text the kids at will, and Angelina can't monitor the conversations.

As we reported, the kids are now all in L.A., per the judge's order, where Brad has significant custodial time with them. Our sources say Angelina has not blocked Brad's ability to see the kids, but they say Angelina continues to drive a wedge between Brad and the kids and it's had a significant impact on his ability to restore his relationship with them.

We reached out to Angelina's rep ... so far, no word back.

Can you spot the $30 BILLION man in this crazy video?

Salma Hayek can't -- because the paparazzi went so crazy for the actress and her daughter outside of Madeo, she lost her insanely rich fashion mogul hubby in the madness!!

FYI, Salma's married to Francois-Henri Pinault -- whose family is worth around $30 BIL, according to Forbes. The Pinaults own some of the biggest high-end fashion companies in the world, including Gucci and Alexander McQueen. He married Salma in 2009.

The gang went out for a family meal Tuesday night -- and Salma's daughter, Valentina, was a natural in front of the snappers ... busting out crazy poses while her famous mama joined in!

Fun Fact: Valentina is 10 years old ... meaning it's been a decade since Salma shared her new mom superpowers to breastfeed a baby in Sierra Leone after the kid's mom ran out of milk.

As for Pinault -- don't worry, he eventually found his way back to Salma (lucky him).