In a bombshell which has also been confirmed by TMZ, The New York Times reports that Antonio Brown has been accused of raping his former trainer.
According to the civil lawsuit, which was filed Tuesday in the Southern District of Florida, Brown sexually assaulted Britney Taylor during three separate incidents, two in June 2017 and the third in May 2018.
The suit, which is not a criminal filing, alleges Brown met Taylor, a gymnast, while they were attending Central Michigan together and he later hired her as his trainer.
The details stated in the lawsuit are ugly, with the worst probably being what happened during the alleged incident during May 2018.
The Times writes: “The lawsuit says, on May 20, 2018, Brown forced her onto a bed, pushed her face into the mattress and ‘forcibly’ raped her. She tried to resist him, screaming and repeatedly shouting ‘no’ and ‘stop,’ the lawsuit says, but Brown refused and penetrated her.”
It’s unclear if Taylor reported her accusations to the police but said she is fully willing to cooperate with the NFL in an investigation.
“As a rape victim of Antonio Brown, deciding to speak out has been an incredibly difficult decision,” Taylor said in a statement released by her lawyer. “I have found strength in my faith, my family, and from the accounts of other survivors of sexual assault.”
In a statement, Brown’s lawyer denied any and all charges against his client and said the lawsuit was a result of an extortion attempt by Taylor. The full statement is below:
STATEMENT REGARDING ANTONIO BROWN: https://t.co/yvEcRyilbt pic.twitter.com/0K9G8vJeG1
— Darren Heitner (@DarrenHeitner) September 11, 2019
In addition to denying the charges, Brown also plans to countersue his accuser for civil extortion, according to ESPN’s Josina Anderson.
A spokesperson for the Patriots told the New York Times that the team had not heard about the lawsuit or any related allegations, according to ESPN.
It goes without saying that if the details in this lawsuit are true, Brown should not be playing for the Patriots or in the National Football League ever again.
In past circumstances like this, the NFL has placed players accused of crimes on the Commissioner’s Exempt list while the matter is being investigated. In this case, it is unclear if that is an option.
Because the Rape and Sexual assault accusations are in a civil lawsuit Antonio Brown remains eligible to play.
— Mike Tannenbaum (@RealTannenbaum) September 11, 2019
Regardless, it seems very possible Brown may be done playing pro football for the year, if not forever.
Editor’s Note: RealClearLife, a news and lifestyle publisher, is now a part of InsideHook. Together, we’ll be covering current events, pop culture, sports, travel, health and the world. Subscribe here for our free daily newsletter.
Whether you’re looking to get into shape, or just get out of a funk, The Charge has got you covered. Sign up for our new wellness newsletter today.
