New York: Vin Diesel, Renowned Fast and Furious Actor, Faces Lawsuit Alleging Sexual Battery
By Zuleihat Owuiye, Mamos Nigeria
In a recent legal development, popular American actor Vin Diesel is facing a lawsuit filed by a former assistant, Asta Jonasson, over claims of sexual battery dating back to 2010. The alleged incident took place during the filming of “Fast Five” in Atlanta, as reported by Variety.
According to court filings, Jonasson contends that Diesel invited her to his suite at the Regis Hotel, where she claims he forcibly pushed her onto his bed. Jonasson states that when she attempted to leave, Diesel prevented her from doing so, pinning her to the wall and allegedly groping her, despite her repeated pleas for him to stop.
The alleged assault continued, with Jonasson asserting that Diesel forced her to touch him intimately. Feeling trapped, Jonasson described closing her eyes in fear and attempting to dissociate from the situation, expressing a hope that the assault would come to an end.
Beyond the accusations of sexual battery, Jonasson is also suing for unlawful termination. She alleges that she was fired by Diesel’s company mere hours after the incident, suggesting that her dismissal was a result of resisting Diesel’s advances.
The legal filing states, “It was clear to her that she was being fired because she was no longer useful — Vin Diesel had used her to fulfil his sexual desires, and she had resisted his sexual assaults. 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 skills and whether a successful career would require her to trade her body for advancement.”
This lawsuit was filed in California under the state’s Sexual Abuse and Cover-Up Accountability Act, enacted in 2022. This legislation allows sexual assault survivors a one-year window to file suits, even if the cases have exceeded the statute of limitations.
Similar laws in other jurisdictions, such as New York, have seen high-profile individuals facing legal action for sexual assault, including former President Donald Trump, rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs, and actor Jamie Foxx.
