The erstwhile assistant of “Fast & Furious” star Vin Diesel has levied sexual battery charges against him.
Asta Jonasson alleges in a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles on Thursday and obtained by USA TODAY that the actor sexually assaulted her in Atlanta during the filming of “Fast Five” in the autumn of 2010.
As per the lawsuit, the actor’s production company One Race employed Jonasson to perform a variety of tasks on his behalf, including coordinating and accosting Diesel to social gatherings and ensuring her presence was documented in photographs whenever the actor attended events absent his longtime companion.
An attorney from the law firm representing Jonasson, Greenberg Gross, issued the following statement: “We are honored to advocate for Ms. Jonasson and ensure that Vin Diesel and those who enabled and concealed his sexual assault are held responsible. Irrespective of the defendant’s status or notoriety, the purpose of the law is to safeguard those who have suffered mistreatment. Sexual harassment will continue to occur in the workplace so long as powerful males are shielded from responsibility.
Bryan Freedman, an attorney located in Los Angeles who represents Vin Diesel, issued the following statement: “Die Diesel unequivocally disavows this allegation in its totality.”
Freedman said in the statement, “This is the first time he has ever been informed of this over 13-year-old allegation made by a purportedly 9-day employee.” “Clear evidence exists to categorically disprove these absurd assertions.”
According to the allegations, Jonasson was requested to wait in his St. Regis hotel suite in September 2010 while Diesel, 56, entertained hostesses from a club following a late night. The lawsuit claims that after the women departed, Diesel grabbed Jonasson by the wrists and pulled her onto the bed.
Diesel allegedly began to grope her breasts, kiss her chest, and run his hands along her midsection, upper legs, and inner thighs after she escaped and requested that he cease.
For her own safety and job security, Jonasson feared “forcibly refusing her superior.” However, when Diesel attempted to drag down her underwear, Jonasson erupted in a fit of rage and fled down the hallway.
The lawsuit alleges that Diesel restrained her to the wall and observed her touch his genitalia. As per the lawsuit, he engaged in masturbation while “Ms. Jonasson, terrified, closed her eyes in an effort to distance herself from the sexual assault and prevent him from becoming enraged.”
Samantha Vincent, president of One Race and sister of Diesel, allegedly called Jonasson hours later to terminate her employment less than two weeks later, according to the lawsuit.
Jonasson was able to file the claims despite having entered into a nondisclosure agreement upon accepting the position. This was possible due to two legislative provisions: the Speak Out Act, which prohibits the enforcement of nondisclosure agreements in cases involving sexual assault and harassment; and California’s AB2777, which temporarily suspends statutes of limitations for allegations of sexual abuse that occurred in 2009 or later.
Additionally, Jonasson asserts in the lawsuit that the #MeToo and Time’s Up movements granted her the ability to “reclaim her autonomy and seek recompense for the harm inflicted upon her by One Race and Vin Diesel.”
Diesel’s filmography also includes “Guardians of the Galaxy” and “Riddick,” in addition to his pivotal role in the “Fast & Furious” franchise.
