The Fast & Furious star, 56, has been accused of s-xual battery in a new lawsuit filed by his assistant Asta Jonasson, but has ‘categorically denied’ her claims.
Following news of the lawsuit on Thursday, an interview resurfaced between Diesel and Brazilian YouTube star Carol Moreira, during a press junket for XXX: The Return of Zander Cage in 2017.
The footage, which was re-shared on X, showed the star gushing over the ‘beautiful’ presenter, asking if he could have lunch with her, and crawling towards her on his knees.
In the clip, Diesel declares: ‘God you’re so beautiful, you’re so beautiful man, am I right or wrong?’ before turning to crew members off-camera.
Fans have slammed Vin Diesel’s ‘creepy and cringeworthy’ behaviour in a resurfaced interview, after the actor refuted claims he ‘forced himself’ on a former assistant
As the journalist responds: ‘Thank you,’ Diesel goes on: ‘How am I supposed to do this interview?
‘She’s so beautiful. Let’s get out of here, let’s go have lunch. My god I love her. Look how beautiful she is, god I love her wow.’
Despite the journalist’s attempts to continue the interview, asking him to deliver his famous catchphrase I Am Groot in Portuguese, he adds: ‘What’s wrong? Am I the only one saying look how beautiful.’
Crawling towards the journalist on his knees, Diesel adds: ‘She’s so f*****g beautiful it’s like, you can’t even do an interview with her.’
After a clip of the interview was shared on social media, many users flooded the replies with criticism of Diesel’s behaviour, branding it ‘creepy’ and ‘unprofessional.’
One wrote: ‘This is so f*****g creepy, holy s**t,’ while another added: ‘One of the cringiest interviews ever. Gross!!’
A third wrote: ‘OMG he’s so weird. I didn’t know vin was like that.’
It comes after Diesel’s lawyer vehemently refuted claims by his former assistant that he ‘forced himself on her’ in Atlanta’s St. Regis hotel during production of Fast 5 in 2010.
The footage, which was re-shared on X, showed the star gushing over the ‘beautiful’ presenter, asking if he could have lunch with her, and crawling towards her on his knees
In the clip, Diesel declares: ‘God you’re so beautiful, you’re so beautiful man, am I right or wrong?’ before turning to crew members off-camera
After a clip of the interview was shared on social media, many users flooded the replies with criticism of Diesel’s behaviour, branding it ‘creepy’ and ‘unprofessional’
‘This is the first he has ever heard about this more than 13-year-old claim made by a purportedly nine-day employee,’ Diesel’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, said in a statement.
His lawyer also stated that ‘there is clear evidence, which completely refutes’ the plaintiff’s ‘outlandish allegations.’
Jonasson says she was hired by production company One Race Films to be assistant while he filmed the movie in Georgia.
According to documents obtained by the publication, Jonasson claimed she was at Diesel’s suite at the St. Regis in Atlanta while he was ‘entertaining multiple women.’
She claimed when the last woman left, she was tasked with escorting Diesel out of the hotel to avoid paparazzi. She also alleged the actor forcibly grabbed her, groped her breast and kissed her, while in the suite.
Jonasson claimed she struggled to break free, but the actor allegedly continued.
She alleged Diesel then lifted up her dress and tried to pull down her underwear, before pinning her against the wall, grabbing her hand and placing it on his erect penis.
She alleged the actor was in his underwear after pulling down his cargo shorts.
Jonasson then alleged he pulled down her underwear and began masturbating while leaning against her. She claimed she kept her eyes closed to ‘dissociate.’
She claimed when he finished, he pulled up his shorts and said: ‘No one can say s**t about Asta’ and left the room.
Jonasson claimed hours later Diesel’s sister and president of One Race, Samantha Vincent called her and fired her, saying ‘they no longer needed her help.’
It comes after Diesel’s lawyer vehemently refuted claims by his former assistant that he ‘forced himself on her’ in Atlanta’s St. Regis hotel during production of Fast 5 in 2010
In the suit, Jonasson said she believes she was fired because she resisted Diesel during the alleged assault.
Jonasson also said she remained silent ‘out of fear of Diesel’s power in Hollywood’ and because of ‘her immigration status as a green card holder.’
She said she now feels empowered by the #MeToo movement and cited California’s Speak Out Act – which allows victims to file s-xual assault claims for alleged incidents dating back to 2009.
Jonasson said she is suing Diesel, his sister and One Race Films for s-xual battery, wrongful termination and hostile work environment.
DailyMail.com has contacted Vin Diesel’s representatives for comment.
Diesel, born Mark Sinclair, is best known for playing Dominic Toretto in the Fast & Furious franchise.
He has been with partner Paloma Jiménez, 40, since 2007. The pair share three kids: Hania, Vincent and Pauline.
