Note: The following article contains discussion of sexual misconduct allegations.
Vin Diesel has been sued by his former assistant following an allegation of sexual battery.
As per Vanity Fair, the Fast & Furious star has been accused of the sexual battery of his assistant back in 2010, when the actor was filming Fast Five.
The lawsuit, which was filed in Los Angeles, states that plaintiff Asta Jonasson was hired to work for the actor on location in Atlanta, with her job responsibilities including "organising and accompanying Diesel to parties" as well as "ensuring that she was in close physical proximity to him" in case fans wanted photographs.
The actor has denied the allegations in a statement issued through his attorney on Thursday night (December 21).
"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," said Diesel's lawyer Bryan Freedman. "There is clear evidence which completely refutes these outlandish allegations."
What to Read Next
Digital Spy has reached out to Diesel's representative for comment.
Related: Vin Diesel says Dwayne Johnson "needed" to return in Fast X
The suit continues by alleging that Jonasson was asked to accompany Diesel to his suite at the St Regis Hotel in September 2010, where the actor was "entertaining hostesses" he brought back from a nightclub.
After the hostesses left, Jonasson claims that Diesel "grabbed both of her wrists" and "pulled her onto the bed", during which she escaped his grasp and waited for him to leave the suite. She then alleges that Diesel kissed and groped her, despite her pleas to stop.
"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", reads the lawsuit.
"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."
Related: Fast X director explains how those cameos came about
According to the lawsuit, Jonasson then ran down the hallway towards the bathroom, where Diesel allegedly pinned her to the wall and proceeded to masturbate, at which point a "terrified" Jonasson attempted to "dissociate from the sexual assault and avoid angering him."
Jonasson claims that Samantha Vincent, Diesel's sister and president of their production company One Race, later notified her that her employment had been terminated.
The lawsuit also details another incident involving a supervisor at One Race, as well as claims such as discrimination and a hostile work environment.
If you've been affected by the issues raised in this story, you can access more information from Rape Crisis England and Wales, who work towards the elimination of all forms of sexual violence and sexual misconduct, on their website or by calling the National Rape Crisis Helpline on 0808 802 9999. Rape Crisis Scotland’s helpline number is 08088 01 03 02.
Readers in the US are encouraged to contact RAINN, or the National Sexual Assault Hotline on 800-656-4673.
Reporter, Digital Spy George is a freelance writer who specialises in Movies and TV. After graduating with a degree in Film Studies and Journalism from De Montfort University, in which he analysed the early works of Richard Linklater for his dissertation, he wrote for several websites for GRV Media. His film tastes vary from blockbusters like Mission: Impossible and John Wick to international directors such as Paolo Sorrentino and Hirokazu Kore-eda, and has attended both the London and Berlin film festivals.
