Latest news with #Doe
New York Post
7 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Post
Zion Williamson rape accuser seeking eye-popping $18 million to $50 million in bombshell lawsuit
The woman alleging Zion Williamson raped her is seeking 'anywhere from $18 million to $50 million' in the lawsuit filed Thursday in Los Angeles superior court, a source told ESPN. Williamson denied the allegations to The Post on Friday via his legal representatives. The woman, identified as Jane Doe in the lawsuit, claims to be the Pelicans star's ex-girlfriend, having allegedly started dating when Williamson was a freshman at Duke in 2018 until 2023. 'During the course of their relationship, Defendant engaged in a continuing pattern of abusive, controlling and threatening behavior toward Plaintiff,' the lawsuit reads, as obtained by The Post. 'His wrongful conduct occurred in Louisiana and continued thereafter across several states. The abuse was sexual, physical, emotional and financial in nature.' 4 Zion Williams is alleged to have committed rape in a new lawsuit. AP The lawsuit contains graphic details from a pair of 2020 encounters. Doe alleges in the lawsuit that she arrived on Sept. 23, 2020 to the Beverly Hills home that Williamson rented at the time and he requested sex. When Doe told the former No. 1 pick she was tired and wanted to go to sleep, he allegedly called her 'stuck up' and a 'b—h' and said she could not go to bed before sleeping with him. After she said no, the 24-year-old Williamson allegedly 'pinned Plaintiff down on the bed with her hands behind her back and raped her.' When Doe attempted to grab her phone, Williamson allegedly threw it across the room before choking her and yelling at her for 'talking too much.' A second alleged rape is claimed to have occurred roughly one month later on Oct. 10, 2020. Doe alleges to have told Williamson she wanted to visit a friend in San Diego and he said that she could not go while throwing items in the house. 4 Zion Williamson with the Pelicans during a March 2025 game. NBAE via Getty Images Williamson is then alleged to have 'picked her up, threw her down to the ground, and pinned her shoulders down so she could not move. Defendant violently raped Plaintiff in multiple ways.' Doe alleges Williamson then took her cell phone and laptop to prevent her from contacting anyone. The lawsuit alleges Williamson 'continued to abuse, rape, assault and batter plaintiff' in multiple other states until the relationship ended in 2023. 4 Zion Williamson allegedly began dating the woman while at Duke in 2018. AP Doe also claims Williamson threatened to kill her and her family, including an allegation of him threatening to pay his security guard to shoot her in the head and kill her parents. 'Our client is very adamant about this — it's not her desire or our desire to litigate this case in the press,' Doe's attorney, Sam Taylor with the Lanier Law Firm, said to The Post. 'It's a very serious case, as reflected in the allegations. Our client looks forward to her day in court where she can go and explain to a jury what happened to her, the things she endured for this defendant and getting justice.' Williamson's legal counsel said in a statement they plan to file a counterclaim against Doe and seek 'significant damages for this defamatory lawsuit. 'We take these allegations with the utmost seriousness, and we unequivocally deny them. The allegations contained in the complaint are categorically false and reckless,' Williamson's legal counsel told The Post. 'This is the plaintiff's third set of attorneys. This appears to be an attempt to exploit a professional athlete driven by a financial motive rather than any legitimate grievance.' 4 Williamson represented the Pelicans at the NBA draft lottery. NBAE via Getty Images The representatives added that Williamson has reported 'the plaintiff's extortion attempts to law enforcement' and allege that an arrest warrant was issued 'in connection with the report.' His representatives claim the two had a 'consensual, casual relationship' but never dated. 'That relationship ended years ago. At no point during or immediately after that relationship did the plaintiff raise any concerns. Only after the friendship ended did she begin demanding millions of dollars,' the statement provided to The Post on Friday read. 'While these allegations are false, we recognize the seriousness of the claims and welcome the opportunity to prove the truth in court. We are confident that the legal process will expose the truth and fully vindicate Mr. Williamson.' Williamson just completed his sixth season in the NBA — he did not play in 2021-22 — all with the Pelicans, and has struggled to live up to expectations due to injuries. He has played at least 60 games only twice, with the ex-Duke star appearing in only 30 games this past season. Williamson has dealt with off-the-court drama during his career. Adult film star Moriah Mills claimed in 2023 that the two had a relationship and she threatened to release alleged sex tapes featuring the pair. Ahkeema Love, the mother of Williamson's daughter, was arrested in April and charged with home invasion, aggravated battery and stalking after breaking into a woman's home and hitting her with keys, Kenner (La.) police said, as reported by NBC News. Williamson was not named in the probable cause affidavit from the incident.
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Zion Williamson Denies Shocking Sexual Assault Allegations And Announces Plans To Countersue
NBA star Zion Williamson has responded to shocking allegations outlined in a new lawsuit filed by a woman under the pseudonym Jane Doe, who claims he sexually assaulted, abused, and kidnapped her during their relationship. In a statement to TMZ Sports, Williamson's attorney fired back at the allegations of sexual assault against his client, labeling them "categorically false and reckless." The lawyer continued, "We take these allegations with the utmost seriousness, and we unequivocally deny them. The allegations contained in the complaint are categorically false and reckless. This is the plaintiff's third set of attorneys. This appears to be an attempt to exploit a professional athlete driven by a financial motive rather than any legitimate grievance." Elsewhere in his statement, Williamson's attorney claimed his client "never dated" the accuser. However, the attorney admitted the pair had a "consensual, casual relationship that began more than six years ago, when he was 18 years old." "That relationship ended years ago. At no point during or immediately after that relationship did the plaintiff raise any concerns. Only after the friendship ended did she begin demanding millions of dollars," they added. According to Williamson's attorney, the NBA star reported the "plaintiff's extortion attempts to law enforcement," and claims "an arrest warrant" was subsequently "issued in connection with that report." They added that they were more than "prepared to provide the court" with documentation supporting the facts of the case. Furthermore, Williamson's legal counsel said the Pelicans player plans to "file counterclaims and seek significant damages for this defamatory lawsuit." "While these allegations are false, we recognize the seriousness of the claims and welcome the opportunity to prove the truth in court. We are confident that the legal process will expose the truth and fully vindicate Mr. Williamson," the attorney said. The lawsuit alleges that on September 23, 2020, Doe was raped and assaulted by Williamson at his Beverly Hills home. In the legal documents, the accuser claimed the basketball player allegedly called her "stuck up" and a "b-tch" and told her she couldn't go to sleep "without having sex with him." She also claimed Williamson, now 24, allegedly proceeded to choke and scream at her for "talking too much" after forcibly pinning her down and sexually assaulting her. A month later, in October 2020, Doe said that another visit with Williamson allegedly went awry after she expressed her desire to visit friends in San Diego. The legal documents further state that Williamson allegedly assaulted her following this exchange and then took her phone and laptop, preventing her from seeking help. 'These two incidents were not isolated,' the lawsuit reads. 'Williamson continued to abuse, rape, assault, and batter Plaintiff in California and other states, including Louisiana and Texas, until the relationship ended in 2023.' Williamson isn't the only professional athlete being accused of allegedly assaulting a woman in a recent lawsuit. In April 2025, Super Bowl champion and media personality Shannon Sharpe was sued by a 23-year-old woman in a Nevada court who, through her attorney, claimed the NFL player was abusive and controlling. The negative attention following the lawsuit led to Sharpe stepping down from his role on ESPN's "First Take" and postponing his "Nightcap" podcast tour until the summer of 2026. The athlete's attorney also addressed the claims in a statement and said Sharpe and his accuser were in a consensual relationship, one that reportedly involved roleplay. Sharpe's lawyer also released alleged text messages between his client and the accuser to "clearly indicate the nature of their relationship." His legal team continued, "These messages are just a sampling of a broader pattern of graphic, sexual communications initiated by [Doe]. The evidence paints a clear picture: this was a consensual, adult relationship that included role-playing, sexual language, and fantasy scenarios explicitly requested by [Doe]." In a video statement, Sharpe also directly addressed the allegations, vowing to defend himself against the damning claims. He finished by thanking his family, fans, and friends for their "overwhelming and ongoing support."
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
NBA Star Zion Williamson Accused of Raping, Kidnapping and Terrorizing Woman in Explosive Lawsuit
NBA star Zion Williamson is being accused of rape and kidnapping in a new lawsuit filed by a woman who claims she dated the power forward when he was a basketball star at Duke. He has strongly denied the claim in a statement from his lawyer. In court documents obtained by TMZ Sports, the woman, who filed the suit in Los Angeles Superior Court as a Jane Doe, claims she began dating Williamson in 2018. But some two years later, after Williamson was selected as the No. 1 overall pick by the New Orleans Pelicans in the 2019 NBA Draft, Doe claims Williamson raped her and assaulted her in Southern California. The woman alleges the incident happened on Sept. 23, 2020, when she visited his home in Beverly Hills. TMZ Sports reports that the woman tried to go to sleep but Williamson allegedly wasn't having it, calling her a "stuck up b--ch" and that "she could not go to sleep without having sex with him." Williamson then allegedly pinned her down and sexually assaulted her. Shortly after, Doe claims Williamson choked her and screamed at her. She also claimed Williamson reeked of booze. The woman claims in the lawsuit that the alleged incidents happened when Williamson was drunk or high on cocaine. Doe claims Williamson terrorized her on numerous occasions after that, from allegedly pointing a loaded gun to her head and raping her in California and Louisiana. She claims the NBA star also threatened to kill her parents. "These two incidents were not isolated," the lawsuit states, per TMZ Sports. "[He] continued to abuse, rape, assault, and batter Plaintiff in California and other states, including Louisiana and Texas, until the relationship ended in 2023." In a statement released by his lawyer, Williamson strongly denied the claims, calling them an "attempt to exploit a professional athlete driven by financial motive." He went on to say the two had never dated, although they had a "consensual casual relationship." Williamson claims that after the friendship ended, she began seeking money from him. See his full statement below: NBA Star Zion Williamson Accused of Raping, Kidnapping and Terrorizing Woman in Explosive Lawsuit first appeared on Men's Journal on May 30, 2025
Fox Sports
a day ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Pelicans' Zion Williamson sued for rape, years of abuse in bombshell lawsuit
New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson has been accused of rape, according to a lawsuit submitted to Los Angeles Superior Court on Thursday, in addition to "sexual, physical, emotional and financial" abuse over the span of a long-term relationship that started during Williamson's freshman year at Duke and lasted from 2018 to 2023. The woman, identified as Jane Doe in the lawsuit, accuses Williamson of a "continuing pattern of abusive, controlling and threatening behavior" over the course of the multiyear relationship, per ESPN. The 12-page civil complaint says Williamson's alleged actions occurred in multiple states, including Louisiana and California, per ESPN's report. The lawsuit alleges that the first instance of sexual violence occurred in a home Williamson had rented in Beverly Hills, California and that he raped her twice in Los Angeles in 2020. It also alleges that he threatened to have his paid security guard shoot Doe and kill the plaintiff's parents in Louisiana between 2020 and 2023. The complaint includes accusations of strangulation, being kicked, slammed with a car door and suffocated until Doe lost consciousness. The lawsuit seeks monetary damages — including punitive damages — for emotional distress. Williamson's New Orleans-based attorney, Michael Balascio, said Williamson and the plaintiff "never dated, but did maintain a consensual, casual relationship that began more than six years ago," when Williamson was 18. Balascio called the claims in the lawsuit "categorically false and reckless." Williamson's attorneys also noted "at no point during or immediately after that relationship did the plaintiff raise any concerns," adding that "only after the friendship ended did she begin demanding millions of dollars." They added that Williamson had reported the woman's "extortion attempts" to law enforcement and that they plan to file a counterclaim. "We take these allegations with the utmost seriousness, and we unequivocally deny them," Balascio added. "This appears to be an attempt to exploit a professional athlete driven by a financial motive rather than any legitimate grievance." "We and our client do not want to litigate this case in the press," Doe's attorney told The Daily Mail. "However, I will say this is a very serious case as reflected in the Complaint filed in Los Angeles County. "Our client looks forward to her day in court before a jury of her peers to obtain justice in this matter." A two-time NBA All-Star, Williamson was the first overall pick by New Orleans in 2019. The 6-foot-6, 280-pound power forward has averaged 24.7 points per game across six years in the league. Williamson, who turns 25 next month, has played in only 214 of 472 regular-season games (45.3%) and zero playoff games over that span because of a series of injuries, one of which caused him to miss the entire 2021-22 season. He appeared in 30 games (all starts) for the 2024-25 campaign before suffering a season-ending back injury in March. In April, Williamson was dragged into a home invasion incident involving the mother of his child, though Williamson was not named in the affidavit. The Associated Press contributed to this report. This is a developing story. recommended Get more from National Basketball Association Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pelicans star Zion Williamson accused of rape and abuse by ex-girlfriend in lawsuit
Content warning: This article contains depictions of alleged rape and abuse New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson has been accused of rape in a lawsuit filed by a woman claiming to be Williamson's former girlfriend. Advertisement The lawsuit, which was filed to the Los Angeles Superior Court on Thursday, accuses Williamson of two instances of rape, as well as "a continuing pattern of abusive, controlling and threatening behavior." Because this is a civil complaint, no criminal charges have been filed. The woman, who is listed in the lawsuit as Jane Doe, said she began dating Williamson in 2018, while he was still at Duke. The two were reportedly romantically involved until June 2023, per the lawsuit. Doe detailed two instances of alleged rape in the lawsuit, the first of which reportedly occurred in September 2020. Doe claimed she was taken to Williamson's house in Beverly Hills, but Williamson was not present at first. When Williamson returned late in the evening, he demanded sex with Doe. After Doe refused, Williamson allegedly pinned Doe down, held her hands behind her back and raped her. Advertisement The second instance of rape allegedly occurred a month later. Williamson reportedly became angry with Doe after he said she wanted to visit a friend in San Diego. Williamson allegedly starting throwing items before tossing Doe on the floor and raping her. Williamson reportedly then took Doe's phone and laptop so she could not report the incident to police. Williamson is also accused of threatening to have his security guard shoot the woman in the head and sending his security guard after Doe's parents. Williamson reportedly performed those actions multiple times between 2020 and 2023, per the lawsuit. Williamson was also accused of monitoring Doe's location at all times and going through her personal belongings without permission. The Pelicans deferred all comments to Williamson's legal team. Williamson's legal team released a statement Friday denying the allegations and accusing the woman of trying to "exploit a professional athlete." It added that Williamson and Doe engaged in a "consensual, casual relationship." The statement said Williamson reported the woman's "extortion attempts" to law enforcement and intends to file a counterclaim. Advertisement Williamson, 24, spent one season at Duke before the Pelicans made him the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. Williamson has battled multiple injuries over his career, though he has flashed All-Star upside when he's remained healthy. After another injury-riddled season in which he played just 30 games, Williamson was the subject of trade rumors during the offseason. The Pelicans refuted those rumors, and even had Williamson represent the team at the 2025 NBA Draft lottery in May.
