Vin Diesel has "categorically denied" his former assistant's claim that he "forced himself on her."
In the lawsuit, the ex-assistant claims Diesel groped her in his hotel suite at Atlanta’s St. Regis hotel during the production of Fast 5 in 2010. The filing says his assistant had been initially tasked with organising parties and catering to the Hollywood actor's needs.
However, the claimant alleges the star "groped her breasts" when the pair were alone. She said she had been asked to help escort the actor from the hotel they were in to avoid paparazzi after he had allegedly been "entertaining multiple women". Diesel's attorney Bryan Freedman has now released a statement which read: "Let me be very clear Vin Diesel categorically denies this claim in its entirety.
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"This is the first he has ever heard about this more than 13-year-old claim made by a purportedly nine-day employee. There is clear evidence which completely refutes these outlandish allegations," he told Variety.
Paul Walker is 'very much alive' in the trailer for new Fast & Furious movieIn the filing, which was obtained by The Blast, it's said Diesel was asked to stop many times. The statement said Diesel forcibly grabbed his former assistant and groped her breast while also reportedly trying to lift her dress and pull down her underwear.
The document alleges she "struggled continually to break free of his grasp, while repeatedly saying no". Further graphic allegations were made in the legal document, while Diesel's former staff member is said to have been "scared of angering" the star.
It's claimed that Diesel's sister and president of One Race fired the alleged victim shortly after the alleged incident, saying the company didn't need "any extra help". The document states the accuser believes she was fired for "courageously resisting Vin Diesel's sexual assault".
The lawsuit sees the claimant suing the star and One Race company for "compensatory damages and other special and general damages," such as "lost earnings, salary, bonuses, and other job benefits". They have also requested "statutory damages" a "civil penalty of $10,000 for each violation of sections 98.6 and 1102.5 of the Labor Code."
If you have been affected by this story in the UK, contact Rape Crisis England & Wales for free confidential support and information on 08088029999. If you are in the US, visit https://www.rainn.org/ or call (800) 656-4673.