New England Patriots Wide Receiver Antonio Brown Accused of Rape
A former trainer says the star athlete assaulted her on three occasions.
Photo via AP/Rick Scuteri
Antonio Brown, the star wide receiver signed by the Patriots this week, has been accused of rape.
According to a legal filing that came just one day after Brown finalized a deal with the Pats that rocked the NFL, gymnast and athletic trainer Britney Taylor has accused the athlete of rape and sexual assault.
In the complaint, Taylor alleges Brown assaulted her twice in 2017 while she was working as his trainer, once by exposing himself and kissing her without her consent, and once by ejaculating onto her back without her knowledge. She also produced saved text messages that she says offer proof of the assault, in which Brown “bragged about the incident to her.” In 2018, Taylor alleges, Brown “forcibly raped her” after a night out in Miami.
“Brown’s assaults and rape have severely traumatized Ms. Taylor. Ms. Taylor suffered near-daily panic attacks and suicidal ideations,” the suit reads, adding that Taylor seeks “damages for the significant harm Brown caused by this brutal and sadistic misconduct.”
The lawsuit says Taylor and Brown met at Central Michigan University, where they were paired up in a Bible study. She says they maintained a friendship but not a romantic partnership, and that he hired her as a trainer in 2017.
Brown denied the allegations through his lawyer, Darren Heitner, who says that Brown and Taylor had “a consensual personal relationship” and that “Any sexual interaction with Mr. Brown was entirely consensual.”
“Mr. Brown denies each and every allegation in the lawsuit. He will pursue all legal remedies to not only clear his name, but to also protect other professional athletes against false accusations,” Heitner writes in the statement, which says Brown believes the allegations are “a money grab.”
STATEMENT REGARDING ANTONIO BROWN: https://t.co/yvEcRyilbt pic.twitter.com/0K9G8vJeG1
— Darren Heitner (@DarrenHeitner) September 11, 2019
It remains to be seen what impact the allegations might have on his deal with the Patriots. Brown is scheduled to suit up for the team for the first time on Sunday against the Miami Dolphins.
In a statement from the Patriots, the team said it was aware of the allegations and that the NFL would investigate, but did not say whether he would play this weekend. “We are aware of the civil lawsuit that was filed earlier today against Antonio Brown, as well as the response by Antonio’s representatives,” the statement reads. “We take these allegations very seriously. Under no circumstance does this organization condone sexual violence or assault. The league has informed us that they will be investigating. We will have no further comment while that investigation takes place.”
The New England Patriots have released a statement regarding Antonio Brown and the sexual assault allegations. pic.twitter.com/V8HCHI9O29
— Allan Bell (@AllanBell247) September 11, 2019
