Vin Diesel accused of sexual battery by former assistant in lawsuit
Los Angeles (AP/PTI): “Fast and Furious” star Vin Diesel has been accused by his former assistant of sexual battery while working for him in 2010.
Asta Jonasson filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles on Thursday alleging that Diesel forced himself onto her in a hotel suite in Atlanta. The lawsuit alleges she tried to escape from the room after being forced into Mr. Diesel’s bed, but the actor moved toward her then groped her breasts and kissed her chest.
Ms. Jonasson was fired hours later by Ms. Diesel’s sister Samantha Vincent, who is also the president of his One Race Productions.
The lawsuit stated that Ms. Jonasson felt like she was a “piece of trash" and her self esteem was “demolished.”
“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.
Ms. Jonasson is suing Ms. Diesel and his company for creating a hostile work environment, negligent supervision and wrongful termination, among her other claims.
"Let me be very clear: Vin Diesel categorically denies this claim in its entirety,” attorney Bryan Freedman said in a statement reported by the trade outlet Variety. “This is the first he has ever heard about this more than 13-year-old claim made by a purportedly 9-day employee. There is clear evidence which completely refutes these outlandish allegations.”
Ms. Jonasson’s attorney, Claire-Lise Kutlay, said in a statement that her client's lawsuit seeks to hold Mr. 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.”
The Associated Press generally does not identify alleged victims of sexual assault unless they come forward publicly, as Jonasson has done.
Mr. Diesel has starred as Dominic Toretto since the “The Fast and Furious” franchise’s inaugural film in 2001. The movies have become big earners at the domestic and international box office, with the past two films each making more than $1 billion.
Earlier this year, the franchise's tenth installment, "Fast X," starring Mr. Diesel, opened with $67.5 million in ticket sales.
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Five held for attacking family, pet dog in Hyderabad
Hyderabad: Three members of a family and their pet dog were injured here when a group of five persons attacked them, accusing the pet of biting a member of the latter's family, police said on Thursday.
A video of the incident which took place on May 14 in Rehmath Nagar, showing a group of people beating up a man and his dog with sticks and rods, has gone viral on social media. The man's wife and mother are seen trying to stop the brutal attack on him in the video.
A case under section 307 (attempt to murder) and other relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and relevant provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act was registered at Madhura Nagar police station in connection with the incident, and the five attackers were arrested, police said.
In a police complaint, the brother of the victim stated that on May 8 when his brother and wife were going to cast the postal ballot vote and opened the door, their pet dog slipped outside and went towards a couple, their neighbours. His brother immediately stopped the dog from advancing, he added.
But, the couple questioned his brother, accusing him of inciting the dog to attack them, the complainant said, and alleged that the couple's family members attacked his brother and slapped his wife and beat up a relative over the matter.
In this regard, a complaint was lodged and a counter complaint was also filed alleging that the pet dog attacked and bit a family member of the neighbour, police said.
The complainant said that on May 14, when his brother took the dog for a walk and stood in front of his house, the neighbour along with four unknown persons attempted to kill him and the pet dog in revenge for the previous incident.
The complainant further accused that the group of people attacked his brother and the pet dog with rods and sticks, as seen in the video, and when his brother's wife and mother tried to rescue them, they also attacked them resulting in injuries to them and also the dog.
దారుణం.. ఇంట్లోకి వచ్చిందని కుక్కపై, యజమానిపై, అతని భార్యపై దాడి
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దీంతో ఇద్దరి మధ్య గొడవ జరగగా అదును చూసి ధనుంజయ్ తన ఇద్దరు స్నేహితులతో కలిసి శ్రీనాథ్పై, శ్రీనాథ్ భార్యపై, పెంపుడు… pic.twitter.com/y3gJBfSlXj
