This is normally the sentence where I’d make some kind of pithy joke about a car-centric film franchise, but considering the seriousness of this particular story, I’ll refrain. Vin Diesel, star of the never-ending “Fast & Furious” films, has been accused of sexual battery by his former personal assistant. Not just accused, either.
A lawsuit filed by Asta Jonasson brings claims of a 2010 assault. Jonasson worked for Diesel as his personal assistant for only 9 days, according to a retort by Diesel’s lawyer, who categorically denies the accusations.
According to the suit, late one night in September 2010, Jonasson was asked to wait in Diesel’s suite at the St. Regis Hotel along with several…”hostesses” from a nearby club he’d brought back to the room. The suit claims, Diesel “grabbed Ms. Jonasson’s wrists, one with each of his hands, and pulled her onto the bed” once the other women had left. She reportedly asked him to stop, but he did not. We won’t go into all the details of the alleged assault here, but they are…not great.
The suit alleges hours after this occurrence, President of One Race Samantha Vincent (Diesel’s sister) called Jonasson to terminate her employment after less than two weeks on the job.
“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,” according to the suit, which says that Jonasson’s “self-esteem was demolished, and she questioned her own skills and whether a successful career would require her to trade her body for advancement.”
“Let me be very clear: Vin Diesel categorically denies this claim in its entirety,” attorney Bryan Freedman told Vanity Fair. “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.”
If you’re wondering why the 13-year delay in coming forward, that’s somewhat easier to explain. As with many jobs in entertainment, an NDA was signed. But thanks to the Speak Out Act, which prevents the enforcement of nondisclosure agreements in instances of sexual assault and harassment, and California’s AB2777, which temporarily waives statutes of limitations for sexual abuse allegations occurring in 2009 or later, Jonasson was able to file.
We’ll let you know what we hear about this and other news.
