Vin Diesel's former assistant sues him for sexual assault
Asta Jonasson seeks compensation for emotional distress and punitive damages for an alleged attack that occurred in September 2010.
A former assistant of Vin Diesel filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles against the famous actor for alleged sexual assault. Asta Jonasson alleges that Diesel grabbed, touched and kissed her without her consent.
Jonasson explained in her complaint that One Race Productions hired her to work with Diesel organizing parties, accompanying the actor during events that he attended without his girlfriend, and ensuring that photographs of the artist were not taken during parties, among other responsibilities.
The alleged assault occurred one night in September 2010, when the former assistant was asked to wait for Diesel in a hotel suite in Atlanta, and the actor “grabbed Ms. Jonasson’s wrists, one with each of his hands, and pulled her onto the bed,” states the lawsuit, obtained by Vanity Fair.
The document ensures that the former assistant not only tried to get away from the actor but also expressly asked him to stop. However, Diesel allegedly approached her again, kissed her and touched her inappropriately.
“Vin Diesel dropped to his knees, pushed Ms. Jonasson’s dress up toward her waist, and molested her body, running his hands over Ms. Jonasson’s upper legs, including her inner thighs,” adds the complaint.
The actor also allegedly tried to pull down her underwear, and although Jonasson screamed and tried to flee once again, Diesel caught her again, forced her to touch his genitals and masturbated.
“Terrified, Ms. Jonasson closed her eyes, trying to dissociate from the sexual assault and avoid angering him,” the text states.
The former assistant is also suing the actor’s sister, Samantha Vincent, president of One Race Productions, for allegedly wrongfully firing her shortly after the incident.
“Rather than take any actions to protect Ms. Jonasson from further sexual assaults or punish Vin Diesel for his egregious actions, Vincent stated that One Race no longer needed ‘any extra help’ and terminated Ms. Jonasson’s employment.”
Jonasson now seeks damages for lost wages and emotional distress, as well as punitive and exemplary damages to punish the defendant and deter future similar conduct.