Vin Diesel, known for his iconic role in the Fast & Furious franchise, finds himself embroiled in a serious legal battle as a former assistant steps forward with allegations of sexual battery and harassment. In a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles, the former employee, Asta Jonasson, accuses Diesel of several instances of inappropriate behavior during her employment at his company, One Race, in 2010, including groping and wrongful termination.

The plaintiff describes a scenario where she was pinned and groped by Diesel, also alleging that she was forced to touch him inappropriately. The suit claims Jonasson was fired shortly after resisting Diesel's advances, facing severe emotional distress and questioning her career prospects and self-worth. Jonasson suggests that a non-disclosure agreement she signed upon employment had initially prevented her from speaking out, but she has been able to file this lawsuit thanks to California's Speak Out Act, which allows for certain exceptions from NDAs in sexual abuse cases dating back to 2009 or later.

The lawsuit comes at a time when Diesel's behavior has been a subject of discussion, particularly with the recent departure of Fast X director Justin Lin, owing to reported disagreements with the actor during the film's production. Currently, Diesel has not made any public comments on these allegations, and the matter remains open with the legal system.

What is the Speak Out Act and how does it affect non-disclosure agreements?

The Speak Out Act is legislation in California that allows individuals to bypass non-disclosure agreements when reporting cases of sexual assault or harassment that occurred in 2009 or later. This act aims to enable survivors to share their stories and seek justice without the legal constraints that previously kept them silent.