Actor Vin Diesel is at the center of a legal battle as his former assistant, Asta Jonasson, has filed a lawsuit against him for alleged sexual battery and wrongful termination. The complaint, lodged in Los Angeles, accuses Diesel of a 2010 incident during the filming of “Fast Five” in Atlanta. According to the suit obtained by CBS News, Jonasson claims Diesel assaulted her in a hotel room, forcibly groping and kissing her despite her clear refusal. The lawsuit further alleges that Diesel attempted to remove her underwear while she tried to escape to a nearby bathroom, leaving her in a state of shock until he finally ceased.
The legal action also involves Diesel’s sister, Samantha Vincent, and their production company, One Race Films, implicating them in the purported cover-up of the assaults and the subsequent termination of Jonasson’s employment. The complaint states that just hours after the alleged incident, Jonasson was terminated from her job by Diesel’s sister. Jonasson, empowered by the #MeToo movement, remained silent out of fear for years but was emboldened to come forward within the three-year window provided by California’s Sexual Abuse and Cover-Up Accountability Act, passed in 2022.
In response, Vin Diesel’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, vehemently denied the allegations, stating that Diesel categorically denies the claims and that this is the first he has heard of the more than 13-year-old accusation made by a former employee. The lawsuit seeks damages, including a $10,000 civil penalty for each violation, along with unspecified compensation for emotional distress and lost income due to Diesel’s alleged conduct. Jonasson’s attorney, Claire-Lise Kutlay, emphasized the importance of justice, stating that no one, regardless of fame or power, should evade accountability for sexual assault, expressing hope that Jonasson’s courage will encourage other survivors to speak out.
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