Vin Diesel is facing serious allegations of sexual battery made by his ex-assistant, Asta Jonasson, in a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles on December 12.
Vanity Fair has provided a comprehensive report outlining the accusations, which encompass various forms of misconduct such as discrimination based on sex or gender, intentional infliction of emotional distress, creating a hostile work environment, wrongful termination, and retaliation. Despite numerous requests for comment, Diesel has chosen not to respond.
In 2010, the reported incident took place when Jonasson commenced her employment at One Race, Diesel’s production company, during the production of Fast Five.
According to Jonasson, after a work event one night, Diesel allegedly forced himself on her in a hotel room. She alleges that he forcefully grabbed her wrists and attempted to pull her onto the bed. Seeking refuge, she moved towards the door, hoping for him to leave, but claims that he proceeded to grope her.
The lawsuit states that the actor then knelt down and pushed Jonasson’s dress up towards her waist, engaging in inappropriate touching. In response, Jonasson screamed and fled into the hallway, where Diesel allegedly cornered her against the wall, coercing her to touch his genitals and masturbating.
Shortly after the alleged sexual assault, Jonasson asserts that she was terminated by Samantha Vincent, the president of One Race and Diesel’s sister.
The lawsuit identifies Diesel, Vincent, and One Race as defendants. At the time of her dismissal, Jonasson stated that she signed a nondisclosure agreement, but the new Speak Out Act allows individuals who have signed NDAs to come forward in cases of sexual assault and harassment.
A lawyer from Greenberg Gross, the firm representing Jonasson, said in a statement: “We are proud to represent Ms. Jonasson and hold accountable Vin Diesel and those who allowed and covered up his sexual assault. The law exists to protect those who have been wronged, no matter how powerful or famous the defendant is. Sexual harassment in the workplace will never stop if powerful men are protected from accountability.”
Bryan Freedman, a Los Angeles-based lawyer representing Vin Diesel, said in a statement that Diesel “categorically denies this claim in its entirety.”
“This is the first he has ever heard about this more than 13-year-old claim made by a purportedly 9-day employee,” Freedman said in the statement. “There is clear evidence which completely refutes these outlandish allegations.”
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