Vin Diesel “categorically denies” his former assistant’s lawsuit in which she accuses the “Fast and Furious” star of sexual battery stemming from an alleged incident that took place in September 2010.
In a bombshell lawsuit, obtained Thursday by Vanity Fair, Diesel’s assistant Asta Jonasson claims the actor, whose real name is Mark Sinclair, invited her to his suite at the St. Regis hotel in Atlanta after coming back from the club with hostesses.
Once the other women left, Jonasson alleges that the “XXX” actor grabbed her by the wrists and pulled her onto the bed.
“Despite her pleas” to stop, Diesel, 56, allegedly proceeded to grope her breasts and kiss her chest.
Jonasson had recently graduated from a Los Angeles film school program and was hired to work for Diesel’s production company, One Race, while “Fast Five” was in production. Her job reportedly consisted of organizing parties, accompanying the “Pacifier” star to parties, and ensuring that she was in “close proximity” to him when he was photographed alongside other women who weren’t his longtime girlfriend.
“The Lion King” premiere in London in July 2019Matt Baron/Shutterstock
“Ms. Jonasson was afraid to more forcibly refuse her supervisor, knowing that getting him out of that room was both crucial to her personal safety and job security,” the suit reportedly states. “But this hope died when 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.”
The suit also claims that Jonasson screamed and ran down the hallway toward the bathroom when Diesel reached to allegedly remove her underwear while he pinned her to the wall and placed her hand on his “erect penis.”
Diesel allegedly started masturbating while a “terrified” Jonasson “closed her eyes, trying to dissociate from the sexual assault and avoid angering him,” according to the docs.
Diesel at the “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” European Gala Event at the Avengers Campus at Disneyland Paris on April 22.WireImage
After being on the job for only two weeks, Jonasson claims Diesel’s sister and the president of his film company, Samantha Vincent, called to fire her.
“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,” the suit reportedly says.
Diesel’s lawyer denied Jonasson’s accusations Thursday in a statement to The Post.
“Let me be very clear: Vin Diesel categorically denies this claim in its entirety. This is the first he has ever heard about this more than 13-year-old claim made by a purportedly nine-day employee. There is clear evidence which completely refutes these outlandish allegations,” he wrote.
Jonasson is also suing for discrimination based on sex/gender, intentional infliction of emotional distress, a hostile work environment, wrongful termination and retaliation.
Diesel at LudaDay Weekend on September 4, 2010, in AtlantaWireImage
The suit accuses Diesel and One Race of attempting to cover up the alleged incident, and says Jonasson “has suffered and continues to suffer humiliation, emotional distress, and mental and physical pain and anguish.”
She went on to work in the entertainment industry as an assistant and production coordinator and is choosing to go public with the information now because of the Speak Out Act.
The legislation prevents the enforcement of nondisclosure agreements, which Jonasson signed, in instances of sexual assault and harassment.
Diesel attends the F1 Grand Prix at Miami International Autodrome on May 7Getty Images
This will hopefully allow her to “reclaim her agency and justice for the suffering she endured at the hands of Vin Diesel and One Race,” the suit reportedly states.
