Hollywood actor Vin Diesel is facing legal action as his former assistant, Asta Jonasson, files a lawsuit accusing him of sexual battery that allegedly occurred in 2010, News About Nigeria reports.
The complaint, lodged under California’s Sexual Abuse and Cover-Up Accountability Act, details a traumatic incident during the filming of ‘Fast Five’ in Atlanta.
According to Jonasson, Diesel invited her to his hotel suite in Regis Hotel, where the assault took place.
She claims Diesel forced her into his bed, pinned her to the wall, and subjected her to unwanted advances, including groping and coercing her to touch him inappropriately.
Despite her pleas, the assault allegedly continued.
Seeing that she was unable to escape him, Jonasson said she “closed her eyes, scared of angering Vin Diesel by rejecting him”, tried to dissociate, and wished the assault would end.
In addition to the sexual battery allegations, Jonasson is suing for unlawful termination, claiming that she was fired by Diesel’s company merely hours after the incident.
The lawsuit mentioned that her dismissal was a result of resisting Diesel’s advances and no longer serving his desires.
Filed under California’s recent legislation, which allows survivors to sue even after the statute of limitations has expired, Jonasson’s case seeks accountability for sexual abuse and cover-ups.
This legislative framework allows survivors to file these kinds of cases within a year after its enactment in 2022.
Diesel’s case is part of a trend observed in other states, such as New York, where several prominent figures, including Jamie Foxx, Donald Trump, and Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, were sued under related statutes.
