Vin Diesel, whose real name is Mark Sinclair, is being sued by his former personal assistant, Asta Jonasson. The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles, accuses the “Fast & Furious” star of sexual assault during the 2010 filming of “Fast Five” in Atlanta’s St Regis hotel. Diesel’s lawyer has categorically denied the claims.
According to the lawsuit, Jonasson alleges that Diesel overpowered her in his hotel suite, ignoring her non-consent as he groped her. The complaint details that after Jonasson screamed and ran towards the bathroom, Diesel pinned her against the wall and performed a sexual act on himself. Hours after this alleged incident, Jonasson claims she was contacted by Samantha Vincent, Diesel’s sister and head of his production company One Race Films, and was fired.
Jonasson is not only suing Diesel for sexual battery but also for wrongful termination, gender discrimination, illegal retaliation, emotional distress, and wrongful termination. She alleges that another executive from Diesel’s company propositioned her days before the incident with Diesel. The lawsuit paints a picture of a work environment where Jonasson felt her career advancement required trading her body.
Bryan Freedman, Diesel’s lawyer, released a statement to CNN firmly denying the allegations. He emphasized that this was the first time Diesel had heard of the claim from Jonasson, who was reportedly employed for only nine days.
The lawsuit against Diesel, a prominent actor and producer in Hollywood, highlights ongoing concerns about sexual misconduct in the entertainment industry. Claire-Lise Kutlay, Jonasson’s lawyer, stated that the lawsuit aims to hold Diesel and those who covered up the assault accountable, hoping to empower other survivors to come forward.
