Astra Jonasson, "Fast and Furious" star Vin Diesel, filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles on Thursday, December 21, alleging the actor forced himself onto her in a hotel suite in Atlanta.
The lawsuit alleges she tried to escape from the room after being forced into Diesel's bed, but the actor moved toward her then groped her breasts and kissed her chest. Diesel attempted to pull down her underwear, causing her to scream as she ran toward the nearby bathroom. He eventually forced her to touch his erect penis and began to masturbate, the suit says. Jonasson then closed her eyes in fear of angering Diesel any further and wished the assault would end.
Hours after the assault, the assistant was fired by Diesel's sister Samantha Vincent (who is also the president of his One Race Productions). "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 alleges.
Jonasson is suing Diesel and his company for creating a hostile work environment, negligent supervision, and wrongful termination, among her other claims. The lawsuit stated that Jonasson felt like she was a "piece of trash" and her self-esteem was "demolished." Jonasson's attorney, Claire-Lise Kutlay, said in a statement that her client's lawsuit seeks to hold Diesel and those who "allowed and covered up his sexual assault, accountable for their egregious actions." "Employers must protect and defend people when they speak up about sexual assault and harassment," Kutlay said. "We hope Ms. Jonasson's courageous decision to come forward helps create lasting change and empowers other survivors."
Representatives for Diesel did not immediately respond to a request for comment.