*Content Warning: This article discusses sexual battery, including masturbation and groping*
US actor Vin Diesel, whose real name is Mark Sinclair, has been accused of alleged sexual battery by his former assistant.
A report obtained by Vanity Fair has revealed that the lawsuit was filed against the star in Los Angeles on Thursday, December 21st.
On Thursday, Asta Jonasson claimed that the allegations occurred when she was working for the actor in Atlanta, where he was filming ‘Fast Five.’
Jonasson alleges that the actor brought her to his suite at the St. Regis Hotel and forced her onto his bed.
According to the suit, she pleaded with him to stop and started to move towards the door of the bedroom suite.
However, Jonasson alleges that Diesel began to grope her breasts and kiss her chest while also attempting to pull down her underwear.
The suit alleges that she then screamed and ran towards the bathroom.
Jonasson also claims that Diesel pressed against the wall and forced her to touch his erect penis, and then began to masturbate.
“Ms. Jonasson was unable to escape and closed her eyes, scared of angering Vin Diesel by rejecting him further and trying to dissociate, wishing the assault would end,” the suit alleges.
According to the lawsuit, Jonasson was fired hours later after the alleged incident by Diesel’s sister, Samantha Vincent, who is also president of his company, One Race.
“It was clear to her that she was being fired because she was no longer useful – Vin Diesel had used her to fulfill his sexual desires and she had resisted his sexual assaults,” the suit alleges.
“Ms. Jonasson felt like she was a piece of trash to be discarded. Ms. Jonasson felt helpless, her self esteem was demolished, and she questioned her own skills and whether a successful career would require her to trade her body for advancement.”
On Thursday, following the filing of the lawsuit, Diesel’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, issued a statement denying the allegations.
“Let me be very clear: Vin Diesel categorically denies this claim in its entirety,” Freedman stated.
“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.”
Jonasson filed the sexual battery lawsuit under California’s Sexual Abuse and Cover Up Accountability Act, a 2022 law that created a one-year window to file certain suits that would otherwise be outside of the statute of limitations.
For the suit to qualify, the defendant must have engaged in an attempt to cover up at least one previous sexual assault allegation.
In addition to the allegations of sexual battery, the suit also includes claims of gender discrimination, wrongful termination, retaliation, and negligent supervision.
