Vin Diesel is accused of sexually assaulting a woman who briefly worked as his assistant more than a decade ago. This emerges from a lawsuit filed on Thursday and obtained by Rolling Stone.
The plaintiff, Asta Jonasson, who works in the film and television industry, alleges in the lawsuit that Diesel groped her in his Atlanta hotel room in 2010, forcibly kissed her and masturbated in front of her. She claimed the alleged assault took place just a week after Diesel and his production company One Race Productions hired her while filming the fifth installment of Fast & Furious. She also accused One Race of firing her the next day in retaliation for her rejection of Diesel’s advances.
This is what Vin Diesel is accused of
The lawsuit against Diesel lists several allegations, including sexual assault and intentional infliction of emotional distress. One Race and Diesel’s sister Samantha Vincent – a producer for the company – are also listed as complicit.
“For years, Ms. Jonasson remained silent because she was afraid to speak out against one of the world’s highest-grossing actors and because she feared being ostracized by the industry, where it is common practice to protect powerful men and survivors of sexual harassment and sexual harassment “To silence abusers,” the lawsuit says, adding that the company’s employees were required to sign confidentiality agreements when they were hired.
According to the lawsuit, Jonasson decided to take action now, citing the #MeToo movement and California law AB2777, which, like New York’s Adult Survivors Act, allows some sexual misconduct lawsuits in civil court, regardless of whether the The statute of limitations has already expired.
“Emboldened by the #MeToo and Time’s Up movements, and with the protection of the Speak Out Act and the recent revival of her claims through AB2777, Ms. Jonasson is unwilling to remain silent any longer and seeks to assert her agency and justice for the suffering, “To reclaim the suffering she suffered at the hands of Vin Diesel and One Race.” A representative for Diesel did not immediately respond to Rolling Stone’s request for comment.
Jonasson claims in the lawsuit that she was hired on September 2, 2010, and that same day she flew to Atlanta, where “Fast Five” was being filmed. The first task Diesel gave her was to organize a Labor Day barbecue for some of the film’s cast and crew.
According to the lawsuit, the alleged assault occurred a little over a week later, on September 10, when Jonasson was asked to meet Diesel at the Havana Club, where the actor was partying. Diesel eventually left the club early that morning with several hostesses who worked at the club to return to the St. Regis Hotel, the lawsuit says. Jonasson also went back and saw Diesel and one of his security guards chatting with the hostesses in the luxury suite where the actor was staying.
Diesel went into the master bedroom of the suite with one of the hostesses, and all but Jonasson and another of the women left the suite. Eventually, Jonasson received a call from Diesel’s security telling her that the actor wasn’t answering his phone and to tell him he had to leave the hotel. The two hostesses left the hotel and, according to the lawsuit, Jonasson entered Diesel’s bedroom to talk to him.
She grabbed his phone from a dresser and handed it to him as Diesel allegedly “grabbed Ms. Jonasson’s wrists, one in each of his hands, and pulled her onto the bed” before “engaging Ms. Jonasson in a bear hug as she immediately tried to to escape his grasp and get off the bed.”
She managed to free herself from Diesel and left the bedroom. According to the lawsuit, Diesel followed her and told her not to leave. She followed his instructions, “unsure if Vin Diesel was still drunk and increasingly worried that he wouldn’t leave.”
Diesel allegedly approached her and forcibly hugged her again. Jonasson “felt extremely uncomfortable but had no way to stop Vin Diesel,” the lawsuit says. “Vin Diesel was her supervisor, was physically larger and stronger than Ms. Jonasson, and Ms. Jonasson feared for her personal safety and the security of her job if she angered him. “Vin Diesel groped Ms. Jonasson’s body, including her breasts, and forcibly kissed Ms. Jonasson, who continually begged him to stop,” the lawsuit says. “Vin Diesel ignored her requests and began kissing Ms. Jonasson’s chest and collarbone.”
Diesel is said to have masturbated in front of his assistant
Diesel then got on his knees, the lawsuit says, pulled up Jonasson’s dress and tried to remove her underwear while sexually assaulting her. Jonasson allegedly ran down the hallway and knocked Diesel down, but he followed her and pushed her against the wall, where he allegedly began groping her again. Diesel allegedly placed Jonasson’s hands on his erect penis over his underwear, the lawsuit alleges, but Jonasson “pulled her hand away and verbally resisted.” Diesel then allegedly “pulled his penis out of his underwear and began masturbating” while Jonasson was still stuck to the wall. Out of fear, Jonasson closed his eyes and heard Diesel moaning, the lawsuit says. He finally let go of her before going into the bathroom and running the sink. Then Diesel left the hotel suite and left her alone.
Hours later, the lawsuit says, Jonasson received a call from Samantha Vincent, who told her they “didn’t need any additional help” and that Jonasson was fired. “The message was clear,” the lawsuit says. “Ms. Jonasson was fired for courageously defending herself against Vin Diesel’s sexual assault, Vin Diesel was protected, and his sexual assault was covered up.” Diesel is one of several major music and entertainment industry figures to be accused of sexual misconduct in the past year because the legislation has made it possible for older claims to be brought in civil courts. Others now on trial include Sean “Diddy” Combs, Russell Brand, Jamie Foxx, Axl Rose, Jimmy Iovine and LA Reid.
This article by Ethan Millman appeared on rollingstone.com and was translated from English – see the original here.