The Antonio Brown reality show took a dark turn on Tuesday night. Ben Shpigel of the New York Times reported that Brown was accused of three separate incidents of sexual assault with a woman that went to Central Michigan with the wide receiver.
BREAKING: Patriots WR Antonio Brown accused of three separate incidents of sexual assault and rape, according to federal lawsuit filed Tuesday: https://t.co/wFAijgADJK
— Ben Shpigel (@benshpigel) September 11, 2019
The lawsuit was filed by his former trainer, Britney Taylor. Taylor was a gymnast at Central Michigan at the same time that Brown was on campus, and Brown hired Taylor some time after the two left Mount Pleasant.
According to the lawsuit, Brown is alleged to have first sexually assaulted Taylor in June 2017. She claims that the New England Patriots wide receiver exposed himself and kissed her without her permission, and a more serious incident occurred later in the month when he masturbated behind her and ejaculated on her body. She alleges that Brown bragged about the incident in text messages afterward, and those messages were included in the lawsuit.
Taylor states that she stopped associating with Brown following the incidents, but she returned to work with him in May 2018 after Brown assured her that he would not behave inappropriately around her again.
That’s when the most serious incident happened according to the lawsuit. Brown is alleged to have raped her without her consent while she actively resisted him.
Taylor has said that she will work with the NFL in the event of an investigation into Brown’s actions, but Brown has issued a vigorous denial.
STATEMENT REGARDING ANTONIO BROWN: https://t.co/yvEcRyilbt pic.twitter.com/0K9G8vJeG1
— Darren Heitner (@DarrenHeitner) September 11, 2019
Brown’s lawyer, Darren Heitner, denounced the allegations immediately after the news was reported. His team is reportedly preparing a defamation suit against the accuser.
“Mr. Brown denies each and every allegation in the lawsuit,” said a statement from Darren Heitner, a lawyer representing Brown. “He will pursue all legal remedies to not only clear his name but to also protect other professional athletes against false accusations.”
H/T New York Times
