By Imtiaz Husain Abro.
Vin Diesel, known for his role in the Fast and Furious franchise, is facing allegations of sexual battery from his former assistant.Â
Renowned Hollywood action star Vin Diesel is facing serious accusations of sexual assault, as per a lawsuit filed on Thursday. The legal action alleges that over a decade ago, Diesel assaulted his assistant, Asta Jonasson, in an Atlanta hotel room. This lawsuit is part of a series of claims filed in California, where the statute of limitations for alleged sexual crimes has been extended.
According to Jonasson, who was hired by Diesel’s company during the filming of “Fast Five” in September 2010, her initial assignment was to assist Diesel in leaving a hotel discreetly after entertaining multiple women in a suite. However, in the hotel suite alone with Diesel, Jonasson claims he forcibly groped her breasts, kissed her, and attempted to escalate the assault by trying to remove her undergarments, despite her repeated objections.
The lawsuit reveals a disturbing sequence of events, detailing that Jonasson sought refuge in a bathroom, where Diesel allegedly pursued her and coerced her into touching him. Subsequently, he reportedly pinned her against a wall and engaged in inappropriate behavior. The day after these events, Samantha Vincent, Diesel’s sister and president of One Race, the company that employed Jonasson, reportedly terminated her employment.
The lawsuit asserts that Jonasson was fired for resisting Diesel’s assault, sending a message that Diesel would be protected, and the assault covered up. Seeking unspecified damages, the civil suit targets Diesel, Vincent, and their respective companies.
Diesel’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, vehemently denied the allegations, stating that Diesel categorically rejects the claims, and evidence exists to refute them. Despite requests for comment, representatives for Diesel have not responded.
Breaking with the customary anonymity granted to victims of alleged sex abuse, Jonasson has come forward with her accusations. This lawsuit emerges within the broader context of the global #MeToo movement, which has brought about accountability for powerful figures in the entertainment industry, starting with the revelations against Harvey Weinstein in 2017 that led to his imprisonment on multiple sexual assault convictions
