‘Fast and Furious’ star Vin Diesel accused of sexual battery in lawsuit
Vin Diesel UNIVERSAL CITY, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 26: Vin Diesel attends CTAOP's Night Out on June 26, 2021 in Universal City, California. (Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images for CTAOP) (Rich Fury/Getty Images for CTAOP)
By Jessica Goodman, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Vin Diesel’s former assistant filed a lawsuit against him Thursday in Los Angeles accusing him of sexual battery in 2010.
The former assistant, Asta Jonasson, said in the lawsuit that the incident took place just two weeks after she was hired, according to the New York Times. Jonasson was reportedly in Atlanta working as Diesel was filming “Fast Five,” Variety reported.
Normally alleged victims are not identified unless they come forward publicly.
The lawsuit was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, CNN reported.
The lawsuit claims that Diesel brought Jonasson back to his suite at the St. Regis Hotel when he allegedly forced her onto his bed. She asked him to stop and tried to leave but he started to grab her, Variety reported.
His attorney, Bryan Freedman said in a statement to Variety, “Let me be very clear: Vin Diesel categorically denies this claim in its entirety. This is the first he has ever heard about this more than 13-year-old claim made by a purportedly 9-day employee. There is clear evidence which completely refutes these outlandish allegations.”
Diesel’s sister, Samantha Vincent, was also named as a co-defendant, according to the Times. Vincent reportedly fired Jonasson hours after the alleged assault, The Associated Press reported. Diesel’s sister is the president of One Race Productions, which is also named in the suit.
The lawsuit also alleges wrongful termination and retaliation, according to the newspaper,
“For years, Ms. Jonasson remained silent,” the lawsuit said, according to the Times, “afraid to speak out against one of the world’s highest-grossing actors, afraid she would be ostracized from the industry which had a pattern of protecting powerful men and silencing survivors of sexual harassment and assault, and concerned that as a green card holder that speaking out could jeopardize her potential future citizenship.”
Diesel has been in over 60 movies and television shows, according to CNN. One of the projects he has been involved in is the “Fast and Furious” franchise. One of his biggest roles was in Steven Spielberg’s “Saving Private Ryan, the Times reported.
Vin Diesel through the years LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 15: Vin Diesel arrives at the Ninth Breakthrough Prize Ceremony at Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on April 15, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Anna Webber/Getty Images for Breakthrough Prize) (Anna Webber/Getty Images for Breakthrough Pr)
Vin Diesel through the years NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 08: Actor Vin Diesel attends "The Fate Of The Furious" New York Premiere at Radio City Music Hall on April 8, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images) (Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)
Vin Diesel through the years HOLLYWOOD, CA - JUNE 24: Actor Vin Diesel speaks onstage at the NALIP Latino Media Awards at The Ray Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland Center on June 24, 2017 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for NALIP) (Phillip Faraone)
Vin Diesel through the years HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 30: Vin Diesel (L) and Michael B. Jordan attend the 50th NAACP Image Awards at Dolby Theatre on March 30, 2019 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images) (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Vin Diesel through the years HOLLYWOOD, CA - APRIL 23: Actor Vin Diesel attends the Los Angeles Global Premiere for Marvel Studios Avengers: Infinity War on April 23, 2018 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney) (Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney)
Vin Diesel through the years NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 30: Actor Vin Diesel speaks onstage during the 45th Chaplin Award Gala at Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center on April 30, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images) (Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
Vin Diesel through the years MIAMI, FL - OCTOBER 14: In this handout photo provided by One Voice: Somos Live!, Vin Diesel speaks onstage at One Voice: Somos Live! A Concert For Disaster Relief at Marlins Park on October 14, 2017 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Rick Diamond/One Voice: Somos Live!/Getty Images) (Rick Diamond/One Voice: Somos Li/Getty Images)
Vin Diesel through the years BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 14: (L-R) Penélope Cruz and Vin Diesel attend Salma Hayek Pinault's and Kristen Stewart's celebratory luncheon honoring Penelope Cruz's starring role in Michael Mann's Ferrari at the Mandarin Oriental Residences Beverly Hills on December 14, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for (Neon)) (Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for (Neon))
Vin Diesel through the years ROME, ITALY - MAY 12: Meadow Walker and Vin Diesel attends the Universal Pictures presents the "FAST X Road To Rome" at Colosseo. (Photo by Ernesto S. Ruscio/Getty Images for Universal Pictures) (Ernesto S. Ruscio/Getty Images for Universal Pictu)
Vin Diesel through the years MIAMI, FLORIDA - MAY 07: Vin Diesel talks with Becky G on the grid prior to the F1 Grand Prix of Miami at Miami International Autodrome on May 07, 2023 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) (Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Vin Diesel through the years MIAMI, FLORIDA - JANUARY 31: Tyrese Gibson and Vin Diesel attend Universal Pictures Presents The Road To F9 Concert and Trailer Drop on January 31, 2020 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Universal Pictures) (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Universal Pictu)
Vin Diesel through the years UNIVERSAL CITY, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 07: Vin Diesel attends the premiere of Netflix's "Fast and Furious: Spy Racers" at Universal Cinema AMC at CityWalk Hollywood on December 07, 2019 in Universal City, California. (Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images) (David Livingston/Getty Images)
Vin Diesel through the years UNIVERSAL CITY, CALIFORNIA - MAY 20: Vin Diesel attends the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project 2023 Block Party at Universal Studios Backlot on May 20, 2023 in Universal City, California. (Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images) (Monica Schipper/Getty Images)
Vin Diesel through the years LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - APRIL 26: Vin Diesel speaks onstage to promote the upcoming film "Fast X" during the Universal Pictures and Focus Features presentation during CinemaCon, the official convention of the National Association of Theatre Owners, at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace on April 26, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Vin Diesel through the years LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 10: Vin Diesel attends the premiere of Sony Pictures' "Bloodshot" on March 10, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images) (Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images)
Vin Diesel through the years LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 14: Vin Diesel attends the European Premiere of Disney's "The Lion King" at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square on July 14, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images for Disney) (Gareth Cattermole/Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images f)
Vin Diesel through the years BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 25: Vin Diesel speaks onstage during the 2019 British Academy Britannia Awards presented by American Airlines and Jaguar Land Rover at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on October 25, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for BAFTA LA) (Kevin Winter/Getty Images for BAFTA LA)
Vin Diesel through the years HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MAY 18: Vin Diesel, Ludacris, and LL Cool J attend a ceremony honoring Ludacris with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on May 18, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images) (Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images)
Vin Diesel through the years BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 27: Vin Diesel attends the 2022 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 27, 2022 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images) (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Vin Diesel through the years MIAMI, FLORIDA - JANUARY 31: Maria Menounos and Vin Diesel speak onstage during Universal Pictures Presents The Road To F9 Concert and Trailer Drop on January 31, 2020 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images for Universal Pictures) (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images for Universal Pictu)