Vin Diesel's former assistant accuses him of sexual battery in new lawsuit
"Fast and Furious" actor Vin Diesel was accused of sexual battery by a former assistant.
Universal Pictures
- Vin Diesel has been accused of sexual battery by a former assistant.
- In a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Thursday, Asta Jonasson said Diesel forcibly kissed and groped her.
- Jonasson said Diesel also masturbated in front of her.
"Fast and Furious" franchise actor Vin Diesel has been accused of sexual battery by his former assistant, Vanity Fair reported.
Asta Jonasson worked for Diesel in 2010, while he was filming "Fast Five" on location in Atlanta.
According to the filing, it was during that period that Diesel groped and forcibly kissed her. Jonasson also says that Diesel masturbated in front of her while she was working as his assistant on the film, according to the filing seen by Vanity Fair.
According to the lawsuit seen by VF, Diesel "pinned her against the wall with his body, and grabbed Ms. Jonasson's hand and placed it on his erect penis. Disgusted by being forced to touch his penis, Ms. Jonasson instantaneously withdrew her hand and again verbally refused him."
Jonasson was employed by Diesel's One Race production company, which is also named in the suit, along with Diesel's sister, Samantha Vincent, who was an employee of One Race. Jonasson says that after only two weeks, she was fired from the job. According to Rolling Stone, the suit says that Jonasson believes she was fired for "courageously resisting Vin Diesel's sexual assault.
Jonasson was able to file her suit thanks to the Speak Out Act — which waives enforcement of non-disclosure agreements — and California assembly bill 2777, which has lifted the statute of limitations on sexual abuse allegations that took place in 2009 or later.
Insider has reached out to representatives of Diesel for comment.
This is a developing story.