WARNING: This text incorporates graphic content material and should 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 towards 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 courtroom, the previous assistant Asta Jonasson alleges that Diesel assaulted her in an Atlanta resort room whereas the pair had 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 may be clear proof which utterly refutes these outlandish allegations.”
“Sexual harassment within the office won’t ever cease if highly effective males are shielded from accountability,” Jonasson’s lawyer Claire-Lise Kutlay stated in a written assertion. “We hope her brave resolution to come back ahead helps create lasting change and empowers different survivors.”
Jonasson’s accusations haven’t been examined in courtroom.
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 ladies in his resort 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 compelled Jonasson to seize his erect penis, she yelled for him to cease, then he pinned her towards a wall and masturbated, solely letting her free when he was finished. He then left the resort room.
A couple 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 towards one of many world’s highest-grossing actors, afraid she could be ostracized from the trade.”
Jonasson is one in every of many ladies to accuse distinguished leisure trade figures of sexual misconduct for the reason that #MeToo motion started in 2017, within the aftermath of accusations towards now-imprisoned film producer Harvey Weinstein.
For anybody who has been sexually assaulted, there may be help accessible by way of disaster strains and native help companies through this Government of Canada website or the Ending Violence Association of Canada database. When you’re in rapid hazard or worry to your security or that of others round you, please name 911.