Rabat – American movie star Vin Diesel’s former assistant Asta Jonasson has accused him of sexual assault in a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles on Thursday, USA Today reported.
Jonasson explained that the assault occurred in 2010 in a hotel room in Atlanta, during the filming of Fast Five, the fifth movie of the “Fast and Furious” franchise.
According to her, she had started working for the actor’s production company to assist him with various organizational and social tasks,when “he brought her to his suite at the St. Regis Hotel and forced her onto his bed,” according to Variety magazine.
The lawsuit also details that Jonasson attempted to flee and hide in the bathroom while Diesel was trying to assault her, but that he persisted in pursuing her.
In addition, the complainant said that the actor’s sister, who is the director of the company that employed her, Samantha Vincent, informed her the next day that her services will be dispensed with.
Jonasson was also made to sign a nondisclosure agreement (NDA) when she accepted the job, though she was able to file the claims in court thanks to the Speak Out Act, which prevents the enforcement of NDAs in cases of sexual assault.
Vin Diesel’s lawyer Brian Friedman said in a statement cited by various news sources that the star “categorically denies this claim.”
“This is the first time he has ever heard about this more than 13-year-old claim made by a purportedly 9-day employee,” the statement said. “There is clear evidence which completely refutes these outlandish allegations.”
Jonasson said that the “Me Too” campaign encouraged her to file the complaints.
In addition to the Fast and Furious Series, Diesel is widely known for his roles in Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy movies, as well as movies such as Saving Private Ryan and The Iron Giant.
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