WARNING: This text accommodates graphic content material and will have an effect on those that have skilled sexual violence or know somebody affected by it.
A former assistant to the actor Vin Diesel filed a lawsuit in opposition to him on Thursday alleging that he sexually battered her in 2010 and that she was fired from her job simply hours later.
Within the lawsuit, filed in a Los Angeles court docket, the previous assistant Asta Jonasson alleges that Diesel assaulted her in an Atlanta lodge room whereas the pair have been engaged on the film Quick 5.
Vin Diesel denied the allegations by way of his lawyer in an announcement reported by commerce outlet Selection on Thursday. CBC Information has reached out to Diesel’s authorized representatives.
“Let me be very clear: Vin Diesel categorically denies this declare in its entirety,” lawyer Bryan Freedman stated. “That is the primary he has ever heard about this greater than 13-year-old declare made by a purportedly nine-day worker. There’s clear proof which utterly refutes these outlandish allegations.”
“Sexual harassment within the office won’t ever cease if highly effective males are protected against accountability,” Jonasson’s lawyer Claire-Lise Kutlay stated in a written assertion. “We hope her brave determination to come back ahead helps create lasting change and empowers different survivors.”
Jonasson’s accusations haven’t been examined in court docket.
Lawsuit alleges Diesel pinned Jonasson to wall
In her lawsuit, Jonasson alleges that Diesel forcibly groped her breasts and kissed her after he had spent an evening entertaining a number of girls in his lodge suite.
“Vin Diesel ignored Ms. Jonasson’s clear statements of non-consent to his sexual assaults,” the lawsuit reads.
At that time, the lawsuit alleges Diesel pressured Jonasson to seize his erect penis, she yelled for him to cease, then he pinned her in opposition to a wall and masturbated, solely letting her free when he was executed. He then left the lodge room.
A number of hours later, the lawsuit alleges, Jonasson was fired from her job as assistant to Diesel.
The lawsuit stated Jonasson remained silent for years “afraid to talk out in opposition to one of many world’s highest-grossing actors, afraid she could be ostracized from the business.”
Jonasson is one among many ladies to accuse outstanding leisure business figures of sexual misconduct because the #MeToo motion started in 2017, within the aftermath of accusations in opposition to now-imprisoned film producer Harvey Weinstein.
For anybody who has been sexually assaulted, there’s help out there by way of disaster strains and native help companies by way of this Authorities of Canada web site or the Ending Violence Affiliation of Canada database. In the event you’re in quick hazard or concern to your security or that of others round you, please name 911.
