Action star Vin Diesel has been accused of sexually assaulting his assistant in an Atlanta hotel room over a decade ago, according to a lawsuit filed Thursday.

The suit is the latest claim to be lodged with courts in California, which has extended the length of time in which legal action can be taken in cases of alleged sexual crimes.

Asta Jonasson said her first assignment after being hired by the “Fast and Furious” star’s company was to travel to Atlanta in September 2010 during the filming of “Fast Five.”

There, she was tasked with helping Diesel leave a hotel in the early morning hours after entertaining multiple women in a suite, before paparazzi were alerted to his whereabouts.

“Alone in the hotel suite with him, Vin Diesel sexually assaulted Ms Jonasson. Vin Diesel forcibly grabbed Ms Jonasson, groped her breasts, and kissed her. Ms Jonasson struggled continually to break free of his grasp, while repeatedly saying no.

“Vin Diesel then escalated his assault,” the suit said, with the actor trying to pull down his assistant’s underwear.

The suit stated that Jonasson fled to a bathroom, where Diesel pursued her, and forced her to touch him. He then pinned her against a wall and masturbated.

The following day, Samantha Vincent, the actor’s sister and president of One Race, the entertainment company that employed Jonasson, allegedly called and fired her.

“The message was clear. Ms Jonasson was fired for courageously resisting Vin Diesel’s sexual assault, Vin Diesel would be protected, and his sexual assault covered up,” the suit said.

The civil suit seeks unspecified damages against Diesel, Vincent and their companies.

Representatives for Diesel did not immediately respond to AFP requests for comment.

Jonasson has waived the right to anonymity customarily granted to victims of alleged sex abuse.

The global #MeToo movement has seen powerful men in the world of entertainment punished for their abusive and predatory behavior, starting with bombshell allegations against industry titan Harvey Weinstein in 2017 that led to his imprisonment on multiple sex assault convictions.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Vinesh Phogat, one of the ace wrestlers who led the protests against a former wrestling body chief over sexual harassment charges, broke down on camera after his aide succeeded him in the post.

Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who led the Wrestling Federation of India for 12 years, had to step aside earlier this year, paving the way for fresh polls. His close aide Sanjay Singh won the polls yesterday to succeed him in the top post.

#WATCH | Delhi: On former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh’s aide Sanjay Singh elected as the new president of the WFI, Wrestler Vinesh Phogat says, “There are minimal expectations but we hope that we get justice. It’s saddening that the future of wrestling is in the dark. To… pic.twitter.com/Sr8r2Nvuqg

— ANI (@ANI) December 21, 2023

The wrestlers at the forefront of the protests – Sakshee Malikkh, Bajrang Punia, and Vinesh Phogat – addressed the media after the election results were declared.

“Now that Sanjay Singh has been elected chief of the federation, women wrestlers will continue to face harassment,” Ms Phogat said while Ms Malikkh declared she’s quitting the sport.

Ms Phogat, a Commonwealth and Asian Games Gold medallist, said she has “no clue how to find justice in the country.”

“There are minimal expectations but we hope that we get justice. It’s saddening that the future of wrestling is in the dark. To whom shall we convey our grief… We are still fighting,” she added while interacting with the media.

Ms Malikkh, an Olympic medallist, said they had wanted the wrestling body to get a woman chief. “But that did not happen,” she said. “We fought, but if the new president is Brij Bhushan’s aide, his business partner, then I quit wrestling,”

she added while putting her boots on the table.

Sanjay Singh won 40 out of 47 votes in a sweeping victory over Anita Sheoran, a Commonwealth Games gold medallist who was backed by top wrestlers who had protested over sexual harassment charges against Mr Singh, a six-time MP from Uttar Pradesh’s Kaiserganj.

Sanjay Singh has earlier served as vice-president of the Uttar Pradesh wrestling body and was also part of the WFI’s last executive council and its joint secretary since 2019.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, who was in the race for the WFI vice-president post, lost the election.

Besides the president post, elections were also held to fill up posts for a senior vice-president, four vice-presidents, a secretary general, a treasurer, two joint secretaries and five executive members.

Hrithik Roshan, who is gearing up for Siddharth Anand’s film Fighter, recently offered a glimpse into his lavish Mumbai home. The living area boasts a scenic view of the sea and features graffiti-adorned walls. While drawing inspiration from Santorini, Hrithik added a unique touch, a vending machine filled with chocolates and juices, a decision he cherishes as one of his best.

In his home, Hrithik has curated a collection of quotes and phrases that have profoundly impacted his life. He mentioned how these phrases, whether from others or his own thoughts, have influenced his decisions and are displayed throughout his house.

Notably, the space includes monkey bars where Hrithik enjoys spending time with his children. He reminisced about finding a ‘neel’ stone while shooting Mohenjo Daro, which sparked the inspiration for his home’s design, diverting his attention from his character.

He showcased a cosy reading nook, his sanctuary for daily journaling when not engrossed in work. Interestingly, although there was once a pool table, he admitted to missing it despite parting with it as it remained unused. When asked about cooking, Hrithik revealed that while he rarely cooks, he occasionally prepares breakfast for his kids during travels.

Hrithik was last seen in the 2022 film Vikram Vedha with Saif Ali Khan. His next, Fighter, also features Deepika Padukone and Anil Kapoor.