Vin Diesel Sued for Alleged Sexual Battery by Former Assistant

Content warning: This story discusses sexual battery, including masturbation and groping.

Vin Diesel may be gearing up for a legal battle.

The Fast & Furious star was sued for sexual battery, wrongful termination and a hostile work environment by his former assistant, who accused him in a Dec. 21 filing of groping her in a hotel suite in 2010.

Diesel's lawyer Bryan Freedman said in a statement to NBC News that the actor "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 9 day employee," the attorney stated. "There is clear evidence which completely refutes these outlandish allegations." 

Asta Jonasson said she was hired by his company One Race in September 2010 and immediately flew to Atlanta to help him during the filming of Fast Five. 

"One night, Ms. Jonasson was dutifully fulfilling her work duties, including ensuring no photographs were taken of Vin Diesel, who was entertaining multiple women in the Empire Suite of his luxury hotel," per the lawsuit obtained by E! News. "Although Vin Diesel had personal security, only Ms. Jonasson remained in the hotel suite so the women felt more comfortable."

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Jonasson said that after the last woman left in the early hours of the morning, she was tasked with ushering Diesel out of the hotel without being seen. While alone in the hotel room, she said Diesel sexually assaulted her.

"Vin Diesel forcibly grabbed Ms. Jonasson, groped her breasts, and kissed her," the suit continues. "Ms. Jonasson struggled continually to break free of his grasp, while repeatedly saying no."

Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images

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Diesel, now 56, allegedly ignored her complaints and dropped to his knees, pushed her dress up and attempted to pull down her underwear. 

"[He] molested her body, running his hands over Ms. Jonasson's upper legs, including her inner thighs," the lawsuit states. "Terrified for her personal safety, Ms. Jonasson screamed and ran towards the nearby bathroom."

The Guardians of the Galaxy actor then allegedly followed her and "pinned" her against a wall with his body and then "grabbed Ms. Jonasson's hand and placed it on his erect penis."

After Jonasson withdrew her hand, the documents say Diesel took his penis out of his underwear and began to masturbate.

"Ms. Jonasson was unable to escape and closed her eyes, scared of angering Vin Diesel by rejecting him further and trying to dissociate, wishing the assault would end," the suit states. "Ms. Jonasson then heard groaning noises from Vin Diesel, and he quickly released Ms. Jonasson and went to the bathroom and turned on the sink. Jonasson was frozen in a state of shock and unable to move."

Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

According to the suit, Diesel eventually left the room but, hours later, Jonasson received a call from his sister Samantha Vincent, the president of One Race, terminating her employment as the company "no longer needed 'any extra help.'"

Jonasson—who also named Vincent and One Race as defendants in the lawsuit—said that she was told she would be paid for a full two weeks of work even though she worked less than two weeks.

Noting she had signed a non-disclosure agreement when hired, Jonasson explained that she remained quiet for over a decade out of fear, noting that, as a green card holder, she worried talking about the alleged assault would jeopardize her potential future U.S. citizenship.

"For years, Ms. Jonasson remained silent, afraid to speak out against one of the world's highest-grossing actors," her lawsuit says, "afraid she would be ostracized from the industry which had a pattern of protecting powerful men and silencing survivors of sexual harassment and assault."

Elisabetta A. Villa/WireImage

Jonasson is seeking compensation for damages, including for emotional distress.

E! News has reached out to Diesel's rep, Vincent and One Race for comment but hasn't heard back.

This story was updated on Dec. 21, 2023 at 6:31 p.m. PT to add Diesel's lawyer's statement.

For free, confidential help, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 or visit rainn.org.