Update: In a statement to THR, Vin Diesel’s lawyer states that Diesel “categorically denies” the claim, adding, “this is the first he has ever heard about this more than 13-year-old claim made by a purportedly 9-day employee. There is clear evidence which completely refutes these outlandish allegations.”
Original Post:
Vin Diesel is making headlines this Thursday after being sued by a former assistant for alleged sexual battery. The assistant, Asta Jonasson, claims that in 2010, he pinned her against a wall in a hotel suite and masturbated in front of her.
First reported by Vanity Fair, Jonasson says that she was working for the Fast and Furious star while filming Fast Five when he brought her to his suite at the St. Regis Hotel and forced her onto his bed. The suit says Jonasson asked him to stop, then moved toward the door. The report continues, alleging that Diesel ran over to Jonasson and began groping her breasts and kissing her chest. Vanity Fair’s report says he then tried to remove Jonasson’s underwear. She then screamed and headed toward the bathroom. The suit also says Diesel pressed her against the wall and forced her to touch his erect penis, then began to masturbate.
“Terrified, Ms. Jonasson closed her eyes, trying to dissociate from the sexual assault and avoid angering him,” the suit claims.
Several hours later, according to the filing, Samantha Vincent, Diesel’s sister and president of his company, One Race Films, called Jonasson and terminated her employment. “It was clear to her that she was being fired because she was no longer useful — Vin Diesel had used her to fulfill his sexual desires and she had resisted his sexual assaults,” the suit claims.
Jonasson filed her lawsuit against Diesel under California’s Sexual Abuse and Cover-Up Accountability Act, a law creating a one-year window to file specific claims that would otherwise exist outside the statute of limitations.
“Vin Diesel forcibly grabbed Ms. Jonasson, groped her breasts, and kissed her,” says the 10-claim sexual battery, discrimination, and retaliation complaint filed today in LA Superior Court. “Ms. Jonasson struggled continually to break free of his grasp, while repeatedly saying no. Vin Diesel is physically larger and much stronger than Ms. Jonasson, and abused his position of authority as her employer, and was able to easily overpower Ms. Jonasson,” the suit reads. The incident allegedly happened after a night of hard partying with hostesses Diesel met at a nearby club.
“Vin Diesel ignored Ms. Jonasson’s clear statements of non-consent to his sexual assaults.”
“Vin Diesel then escalated his assault, groped her body, dropped to his knees and pushed Ms. Jonasson’s dress up, groped her legs, and attempted to pull down Ms. Jonasson’s underwear,” the filing by lawyers at Greenberg Gross goes on to detail. “Terrified for her personal safety, Ms. Jonasson screamed and ran towards the nearby bathroom.”
“Ms. Jonasson was unable to escape and closed her eyes, scared of angering Vin Diesel by rejecting him further and trying to dissociate, wishing the assault would end,” the complaint says. Ms. Jonasson then heard groaning noises from Vin Diesel, and he quickly released Ms. Jonasson, went to the bathroom, and turned on the sink. Jonasson was frozen in a state of shock and unable to move. Vin Diesel then walked past Ms. Jonasson and said, ‘No one can say shit about Asta’ as he left the room. (via Deadline)
“Ms. Jonasson felt helpless, her self-esteem was demolished, and she questioned her own skills and whether a successful career would require her to trade her body for advancement.”
In addition to the allegations against Diesel, Jonasson alleges that a few days before the incident, she was propositioned by another One Race supervisor. In the complaint, Jonasson says the representative called her to his hotel room, where he took off his shirt, slipped into bed, and ordered her to “Come here.” Jonasson left the room before the scene could escalate.
After being asked to comment on the alarming matter, Diesel’s representatives have yet to respond. Meanwhile, the story is making its way across the internet like wildfire while we await details.