A woman who used to work for Vin Diesel says he sexually attacked her in a hotel in Georgia in 2010 while Fast Five was being filmed.
Asta Jonasson filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court on Thursday, alleging that the Fast & Furious star pinned her to a wall while masturbating and groping in her presence.
Jonasson was allegedly terminated by Diesel’s One Race Films in retaliation for resisting his advances and to conceal the “assault,” according to the complaint.
Bryan Freedman, an attorney for Diesel, stated in a statement that his client “entirely and categorically disavows this allegation.” The statement continued, “This is the first time he has heard of this alleged nine-day employee’s claim that dates back over thirteen years.” Unambiguous evidence exists to entirely disprove these irrational assertions.
Jonasson, who entered into a nondisclosure agreement restricting her from disclosing any information concerning Diesel, grounds her lawsuit on California law reviving the statute of limitations for sexual misconduct claims until 2026 and legislation prohibiting the enforcement of such contracts in certain circumstances.
A similar law in New York, the Adult Survivor’s Act, has been exploited by plaintiffs to file lawsuits against prominent figures in the entertainment industry, including Neil Portnow, Sean “Diddy” Combs, and Jamie Foxx, over the past year.
Several lawsuits have also named the defendants’ corporations, which are alleged to have facilitated the assaults or failed to adequately supervise their directors and employees.
The complaint alleges a violent altercation with Diesel in September 2010 at the St. Regis Hotel in Atlanta.
Jonasson, whose duties encompassed coordinating and accompanying Diesel to social events to guarantee the absence of photographic documentation, claims she was directed to sit in the actor’s suite during his entertainment of other attendees. The lawsuit alleges that he “seized Ms. Jonasson’s wrists, one with each of his hands, and pulled her onto the bed” after they had departed. She claims that after “immediately attempting to escape his grasp,” she exited the bedroom.
As per the allegation, Diesel pursued Jonasson and, after restraining her, “knelt, pushed Ms. Jonasson’s dress toward her waist, and molested her body.”
“Vin Diesel moved to pull Ms. Jonasson’s underwear down,” the lawsuit continues. Ms. Jonasson screamed at that instant and, in a fit of panic, dashed towards the restroom down the hallway, colliding with Vin Diesel to the ground.
The suit alleges that the actor “pinned Ms. Jonasson to the wall with the left side of his body and resumed groping Ms. Jonasson’s body, including her breasts,” after he stood up. According to the complaint, Diesel then “pulled his penis out of his underwear” and began to masturbate.
The complaint states, “After Ms. Jonasson heard Vin Diesel make groaning noises, Vin Diesel released her immediately, entered the bathroom, and turned on the sink with the door to the room ajar.”
The complaint states that Samantha Vincent, president of One Race and sister of Diesel, terminated her several hours later. Reportedly, she informed her during a phone conversation that the organization did not require “any additional assistance” notwithstanding her tenure of less than two weeks on the job.
“The intent was unambiguous. Ms. Jonasson was terminated for valiantly opposing Vin Diesel’s sexual assault; in exchange, Vin Diesel would be shielded and his assault would be concealed, according to the lawsuit, which adds that she had “previously been commended for her efforts.”
Days before the alleged assault, another One Race supervisor allegedly propositioned her, as stated in the complaint. She allegedly departed after being summoned to his room, where he removed his shirt, reclined in bed, and called her, “Come here.”
Jonasson asserts, among other things, sexual assault, gender-based discrimination, a hostile work environment, and retaliation. She demands damages that remain unspecified to compensate for “humiliation, emotional distress, and mental and physical pain.” The suit was first reported by Vanity Fair.
“Ms. Jonasson, enabled by the #MeToo and Time’s Up movements, and with the safeguards of the Speak Out Act and the recent resurgence of her assertions by AB2777, is compelled to cease her silence and endeavor to reclaim autonomy and recompense for the harm inflicted upon her by Vin Diesel and One Race,” the lawsuit continues.
Diesel is not currently involved in any production endeavors; however, he is collaborating with One Race to produce an untitled Fast and Furious film that will also feature Dwayne Johnson. That film is anticipated to be the next Fast film to be released; its director and release date are not yet known. It is anticipated to be succeeded by Fast XI, which would feature Diesel and serve as the character’s farewell.
Additionally, he is affiliated with several other initiatives, the success of which remains uncertain beyond the development stage. Among them are a new Riddick film and a Mattel Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots production produced by Universal.
Diesel portrayed Groot in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and Dominic Toretto in Fast X, both of which were released this year.
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