A former assistant to Vin Diesel has sued the actor for sexual battery, gender discrimination, wrongful termination, retaliation and negligent supervision, as first reported by Vanity Fair.
Filed under California's Sexual Abuse and Cover Up Accountability Act — 2022 legislation enabling a one-year window for lawsuits outside the statute of limitations wherein the defendant had engaged in a past attempt to cover up at least one previous sexual assault allegation — Asta Jonasson's suit alleges Diesel pinned her against a wall and masturbated in front of her in 2010.
UPDATE (12/22, 9:36 a.m. ET): Diesel's attorney has denied the allegations against his client in a statement on the actor's behalf. "Let me be very clear Vin Diesel categorically denies this claim in its entirety, it reads. "This is the first he has ever heard about this more than 13-year-old claim made by a purportedly nine-day employee. There is clear evidence which completely refutes these outlandish allegations."
The following article contains potentially triggering material relating to sexual assault and violence. If you believe you have experienced or witnessed sexual misconduct and are looking for support, consult the Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime to find resources in your area.
The plaintiff claims to have been working for the actor while he was filming Fast Five in Atlanta. Jonasson alleges that Diesel brought her to his suite at the St. Regis Hotel and forced her onto his bed. Despite her telling him to stop, he allegedly began groping her breasts and kissing her chest. When Diesel tried to pull down her underwear, Jonasson claims to have screamed and run to the bathroom.
Diesel allegedly followed her and pinned her against the wall with his body, putting her hand on his erect penis. After the plaintiff withdrew her hand and verbally refused him again, she claims that he then began to masturbate while continuing to restrain her against the wall. "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 document reads.
Mere hours after the alleged assault, Jonasson says she received a phone call from Samantha Vincent — Diesel's sister and president of his company, One Race — informing the plaintiff that her employment had been terminated.
"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 continues. "Ms. Jonasson felt like she was a piece of trash to be discarded. 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."
Jonasson was allegedly also propositioned by a supervisor at Diesel's company a few days before the actor masturbated in front of her. She claims that the supervisor similarly summoned her to his room at the St. Regis and proceeded to remove his shirt, get into the bed and tell her, "Come here." According to the lawsuit, "Appalled, Ms. Jonasson immediately exited the room and the hotel."
The plaintiff is seeking unspecified damages for "humiliation, emotional distress and mental and physical pain." Find the court filing in full here.
Filed under California's Sexual Abuse and Cover Up Accountability Act — 2022 legislation enabling a one-year window for lawsuits outside the statute of limitations wherein the defendant had engaged in a past attempt to cover up at least one previous sexual assault allegation — Asta Jonasson's suit alleges Diesel pinned her against a wall and masturbated in front of her in 2010.
UPDATE (12/22, 9:36 a.m. ET): Diesel's attorney has denied the allegations against his client in a statement on the actor's behalf. "Let me be very clear Vin Diesel categorically denies this claim in its entirety, it reads. "This is the first he has ever heard about this more than 13-year-old claim made by a purportedly nine-day employee. There is clear evidence which completely refutes these outlandish allegations."
The following article contains potentially triggering material relating to sexual assault and violence. If you believe you have experienced or witnessed sexual misconduct and are looking for support, consult the Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime to find resources in your area.
The plaintiff claims to have been working for the actor while he was filming Fast Five in Atlanta. Jonasson alleges that Diesel brought her to his suite at the St. Regis Hotel and forced her onto his bed. Despite her telling him to stop, he allegedly began groping her breasts and kissing her chest. When Diesel tried to pull down her underwear, Jonasson claims to have screamed and run to the bathroom.
Diesel allegedly followed her and pinned her against the wall with his body, putting her hand on his erect penis. After the plaintiff withdrew her hand and verbally refused him again, she claims that he then began to masturbate while continuing to restrain her against the wall. "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 document reads.
Mere hours after the alleged assault, Jonasson says she received a phone call from Samantha Vincent — Diesel's sister and president of his company, One Race — informing the plaintiff that her employment had been terminated.
"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 continues. "Ms. Jonasson felt like she was a piece of trash to be discarded. 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."
Jonasson was allegedly also propositioned by a supervisor at Diesel's company a few days before the actor masturbated in front of her. She claims that the supervisor similarly summoned her to his room at the St. Regis and proceeded to remove his shirt, get into the bed and tell her, "Come here." According to the lawsuit, "Appalled, Ms. Jonasson immediately exited the room and the hotel."
The plaintiff is seeking unspecified damages for "humiliation, emotional distress and mental and physical pain." Find the court filing in full here.
