Action star Vin Diesel has been accused of sexually assaulting his former assistant in an Atlanta hotel room over a decade ago, as per a lawsuit filed on Thursday. The suit marks the latest claim to be lodged with courts in California, which has extended the time limit for legal action in cases of alleged sexual crimes.
The plaintiff, Asta Jonasson, stated that her initial task after being hired by Vin Diesel’s company was to travel to Atlanta in September 2010 during the filming of Fast Five. During her time there, she was assigned to help Diesel leave a hotel in the early morning hours after entertaining multiple women in a suite, to avoid alerting paparazzi.
According to Jonasson’s claims, she was alone with Diesel in the hotel suite when he allegedly sexually assaulted her. Vin Diesel forcibly grabbed Ms. Jonasson, groped her breasts, and kissed her. Ms. Jonasson struggled continually to break free of his grasp, while repeatedly saying no, the suit revealed. It further alleged that Diesel attempted to pull down Jonasson’s underwear and pursued her to a bathroom, where he forced her to touch him. Finally, he pinned her against a wall and masturbated.
The following day, Samantha Vincent, Diesel’s sister and president of One Race, the company that employed Jonasson, reportedly fired her. The lawsuit claimed that Jonasson’s termination was a clear message that Ms. Jonasson was fired for courageously resisting Vin Diesel’s sexual assault, Vin Diesel would be protected, and his sexual assault covered up.
The civil suit seeks unspecified damages against Vin Diesel, Samantha Vincent, and their respective companies. Representatives for Vin Diesel have not yet responded to requests for comment.
Asta Jonasson has chosen to waive her right to anonymity, a customary protection provided to victims of alleged sexual abuse.
This allegation against Vin Diesel comes amidst the #MeToo movement, a global phenomenon that has seen powerful men in the entertainment industry face repercussions for their abusive and predatory behavior. The movement gained momentum with the groundbreaking accusations against Harvey Weinstein, which led to the industry titan’s imprisonment on multiple sexual assault convictions in 2017.
As this legal battle unfolds, it will undoubtedly shed light on the issue of sexual assault and the significance of holding influential individuals accountable for their actions.
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