Vin Diesel has reportedly gotten off to a rocky start with his temporary neighbors in the Dominican Republic after they complained about his overly aggressive security detail.
The 53-year-old actor – whose real name is Mark Sinclair – is currently spending time in the Dominican Republic, where he’s filming part of the upcoming sequel Fast & Furious 9.
But his 12 security guards have inconvenienced the nearby community, according to a letter his next-door neighbor sent to him that was obtained by TMZ.
Too Fast & Furious! Vin Diesel, 53, received a letter from his neighbors in the Dominican Republic complaining of his aggressive security detail, TMZ reported on Sunday
According to the neighbor, they were moved to write Diesel a letter to complain about his security after the guards blocked traffic and pedestrians from traveling down the nearby road while the actor and his children went for a bike ride on Easter.
‘For a few weeks I have personally witnessed and heard from fellow homeowners the unprecedented and abusive display of your security people around our homes and beach,’ they wrote. ‘Interrogating us, blocking our street with five or six SUV’s. Stopping residents while walking when you ride your bicycle.’
They continued, saying that over the past decade the homeowners ‘have never endured and suffered such absurd comportment by anyone renting a home in our very small, private and very secure community.’
The neighbor mentioned that most of the people in the area hailed from major international cities, which they seemed to suggest meant they were less of a threat than native Dominicans.
Hassle: The neighbor blamed Diesel’s security for ‘Interrogating us, blocking our street with five or six SUV’s’ and ‘stopping residents while walking when you ride your bicycle” seen with his children in 2019
Standstill: At issue was an Easter bike ride with his family in which his security allegedly stopped all pedestrians and vehicles from driving past; seen in 2019 with his children and partner Paloma Jimenez
Privacy: Vin and his family are staying in an exclusive residence in Juanillo Beach (playa Juanillo), Punta Cana, Dominican Republic (pictured above)
‘You should know that you are visiting a community where no one is a threat to you, or anyone else that visits us,’ they continued.
The neighbor lambasted Diesel for instituting his ‘own personal and arbitrary rules’ for the area and said he likely couldn’t dictate those rules back in Los Angeles.
They ended their letter with an olive branch of sorts by suggesting that the Guardians Of The Galaxy actor might not be aware of the tactics of his security team.
A source close to Diesel told the publication that he has been going to the Dominican Republic for the past two decades and has had good experiences with the locals so far.
Helping out: A source close to him claimed that his Easter ride had so much security because his family was there. They said they gave Easter baskets to local workers
They also claimed that his Easter ride only had so much security because his family was joining him, and they tried to brush aside concerns by claiming that the family was giving out Easter baskets to workers in the area.
According to the source, Diesel didn’t intend to cause problems for his neighbors, as he’s a big fan of the area, which is why he sought to bring his Fast & Furious 9 production there.
They also mentioned that the security team is all made up of Dominican guards, presumably to suggest that hiring locals makes up for the alleged bad behavior.
To mark Easter and his family bike ride, Diesel shared a black and white photo of him and his son Vincent with two older boys on their bicycles.
‘No candy without cardio Haha,’ he wrote. ‘Happy holidays to our global family.’
Job creator? The source also claimed Diesel only hires Dominicans for his security crew. He also brought production on Fast & Furious 9 to the island country
He’s also been documenting the Fast & Furious 9 production, most recently with an image of the completely masked crew assembled around him outdoors.
‘Great week of filming with my Dominican Crew. Gracias por todo mi gente! All love, always,’ he captioned the photo, which was posted in mid-March.
The production will be a family affair of sorts, following reports that his 10-year-old son Vincent will play a young version of his character Dominic Toretto in flashbacks.
In addition to his son, Diesel also shares daughters Hania, 13, and Pauline, six, with his partner Paloma Jimenez, with whom he’s been in a relationship since 2007.
Family: Diesel shares his 10-year-old son Vincent, who will play a young version of his character in the sequel, and daughters Hania, 13, and Pauline, six, with his partner Paloma Jimenez; seen in 2017