Latest news with #Plaintiff
New York Post
8 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.
The Herald Scotland
16 hours ago
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Zion Williamson: Lawsuit accuses Pelicans star of rape, abuse and more
The accuser, who filed the lawsuit under the name Jane Doe, said the incidents occurred at a residence Williamson rented in Beverly Hills, California, during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. She is requesting a jury trial as well as exemplary and punitive damages. The lawsuit says the plaintiff and Williamson dated from 2018 to 2023, beginning when he was a freshman at Duke University, and the abuse during the relationship was "sexual, physical, emotional, and financial in nature." "We take these allegations with the utmost seriousness, and we unequivocally deny them. The allegations contained in the complaint are categorically false and and reckless," Williamson's attorneys from the law firm Barrasso, Usdin, Kupperman, Freeman & Sarver said in a statement obtained by USA TODAY Sports. "Mr. Williamson and the plaintiff never dated, but did maintain 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. "Mr. Williamson reported the plaintiff's extortion attempts to law enforcement. We understand that an arrest warrant was issued in connection with that report, and we are prepared to provide the court with documentation that supports these facts. Mr. Williamson also intends to file counterclaims and seek significant damages for this defamatory lawsuit." The lawsuit says Williamson assaulted the woman twice -- once in September of 2020 and again the following month -- and that Williamson "continued to abuse, rape, assault and batter Plaintiff in California and other states, including Louisiana and Texas, until the relationship ended in 2023." According to the lawsuit, the two-time All-Star threatened the accuser by saying his security guard would shoot her "in the head while the security guard was present and carrying a loaded firearm multiple times in Louisiana between 2020 and 2023," and "threatening to have his paid security guard kill Plaintiff's parents, after informing Plaintiff that he knows their home address multiple times in Louisiana between 2020 and 2023." Williamson allegedly took the plaintiff's car keys, phone, and laptop without her consent, pointed a loaded firearm at the plaintiff's head, and filmed sexual encounters between the two, threatening to release videos after she wanted to end the relationship, according to the lawsuit. "When many of the wrongful acts were committed against Plaintiff, Defendant was either drunk or on cocaine," according to the complaint. "As a direct and proximate result of Defendant's conduct, Plaintiff has suffered severe emotional distress, anxiety, depression, humiliation, loss of sleep, and other physical and emotional injuries." The plaintiff's lawyer told USA TODAY Sports: ""We and our client do not want to litigate this case in the press. These are very serious allegations." Williamson averaged 24.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 5.3 assists this NBA season, in only 30 games due to injuries, including a lower back bone contusion. Williamson just completed the second season of a five-year, $197 million and is set to make nearly $40 million during the 2025-26 season. The final three years of his contract are not guaranteed. "While these allegations are false, we recognize the seriousness of the claims and welcome the opportunity to prove the truth in court," Williamson's attorneys said. "We are confident that the legal process will expose the truth and fully vindicate Mr. Williamson."
Yahoo
21 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
21 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Zion Williamson Accused Of Rape And Abuse In Horrific Claims By His Ex-Girlfriend
Zion Williamson Accused Of Rape And Abuse In Horrific Claims By His Ex-Girlfriend originally appeared on Fadeaway World. Pelicans star Zion Williamson finds himself at the center of the spotlight after a damaging new lawsuit threatens to dismantle his legacy forever. According to Los Angeles court documents, Williamson is now facing allegations of rape and domestic violence against a woman claiming to be ex-girlfriend. "Plaintiff and Defendant began a dating relationship in or around 2018 while the Defendant was a Freshman at Duke University. Plaintiff remained in a dating relationship with Defendant from 2018 through June 2023," the statement says, via ESPN. "During the course of the relationship, Defendant engaged in a continuing pattern of abusive, controlling, and threatening behavior toward Plaintiff. The abuse was sexual, physical, emotional, and financial in nature." The rape, which reportedly occurred in the "fall of 2020," in Beverley Hills, California. Besides abuse in the physical and emotional form, Zion also allegedly raped the victim and grabbed her phone away after she tried to call for help. "On or about September 23, Defendant raped and assaulted Plaintiff. The plaintiff was picked up by the Defendant's agent from a hotel where the Plaintiff's brothers were staying. When Defendant got home, Plaintiff told Defendant that she was tired and wanted to go to sleep. Defendant called her a 'stuck up' and a b*tch' and told her she could not go to sleep without having sex with him." The details are truly shocking and quite disturbing to read, but the full details have yet to be released. Since it happened in 2020, no legal charges will be pursued, and they are seeking justice in the civil court instead. Zion has yet to comment on the developing story, but it's not a good look for the young NBA superstar, and his team will be working to beat the accusations and restore his legacy. "We take these allegations with the utmost seriousness, and we unequivocally deny them," Williamson's attorneys at Barrasso Usdin Kupperman Freeman & Sarver LLC said in a statement. "The allegations contained in the complaint are categorically false and reckless. ... This appears to be an attempt to exploit a professional athlete driven by a financial motive rather than any legitimate grievance." Sadly, this isn't the first time that Zion has had relationship issues. According to one of his previous partners, Moriah Mills, Williamson used to beat her and then offer her large sums of cash to stay quiet about it. She exposed him on social media, for the whole world, but it didn't stop him from making another poor woman his victim. The Pelicans star, who turns 25 in July, has had a rocky career ever since leaving Duke. With averages of 24.7 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game, he's been in and out of the lineup for the Pelicans with injuries and conditioning issues that have stunted his development. After one of his worst seasons yet as a Pelican (14th in the West at 21-61) his career sits at a major crossroads, and it'll be up to him how it ends. But until Zion gets sorted through all of his off-court drama, it'll be impossible for him to focus on the game and helping his team win at all story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on May 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
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
