US actor Vin Diesel, widely recognized for his role in the Fast & Furious franchise, is confronting serious allegations of sexual assault from his former personal assistant, Asta Jonasson. The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles on Thursday, accuses Diesel, whose real name is Mark Sinclair, of sexually assaulting Jonasson during the filming of Fast Five in 2010.
Diesel’s lawyer vehemently denies the claims, stating, “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.”
According to Jonasson’s lawsuit, the alleged incident occurred in Atlanta’s St Regis hotel, where Diesel purportedly pinned her against a wall and engaged in non-consensual sexual acts. The suit further contends that she was terminated from her position at Diesel’s production company, One Race Films, just hours after the incident.
The legal action includes additional allegations of wrongful termination, gender discrimination, illegal retaliation, emotional distress, and a previous proposition by another executive from the company.
The lawsuit also implicates Diesel’s sister, Samantha Vincent, who runs One Race Films, in the termination, although there has been no immediate response from Vincent regarding the matter.
Jonasson’s lawyer, Claire-Lise Kutlay, stated, “She seeks to hold Vin Diesel and those who allowed and covered up his sexual assault accountable for their egregious actions. We hope her courageous decision to come forward helps create lasting change and empowers other survivors.”
Vin Diesel, a prominent actor and producer in Hollywood, has been associated with blockbuster films such as Guardians of the Galaxy, XXX, and the Fast & Furious series. The legal proceedings add a significant layer of controversy to his established career. Source – BBC
