By Anthony Caruso III | Publisher
Antonio Brown officially signed with the New England Patriots on Saturday. A few days later, he is accused of rape.
The allegations come from a woman that he went to college with at Central Michigan, according to the New York Times. The allegations stem from three incidents that happened in 2017 and 2018.
ESPN is reporting that the lawsuit was filed in the Southern District of Florida. Britney Taylor is the one, who is accusing Brown of rape.
She alleges the first incident happened in June 2017 when she says he exposed himself to her and kissed her without her content, according to the lawsuit. Then, she alleges in July 2017, he masturbated near her without her knowledge. She also alleges he ejaculated on her back, ESPN reports.
Taylor also alleges that he bragged about the incidents in text messages. Nearly one year later, she alleges that he ‘forced her down onto a bed, pushed her face into the mattress, and forcibly raped her.’
Darren Heitner, who is representing Brown in this matter, says the two were on a ‘consensual personal relationship. Any sexual interaction with Mr. Brown was entirely consensual.’
The lawsuit said Taylor and Brown met in bible-study group while attending in Central Michigan. It also alleges that they remained friends, lost touch, then reconnected in June 2017 when he hired her as his personal trainer.
It also alleges that she suffered ‘nearly daily panic attacks and suicidal ideations,’ the lawsuit alleges.
“As a rape victim of Antonio Brown, deciding to speak out has been an incredibly difficult decision,” she said in a statement. “I have found strength in my faith, my family, and from the accounts of other survivors of sexual assault.”
Brown signed a one-year, $15 million deal with the Patriots. His deal became official on Monday after missing Week 1 against his former team, the Pittsburgh Steelers.
He will practice for the first-time with his new teammates on Wednesday.
In the off-season, he was traded to the Oakland Raiders from the Steelers. Pittsburgh received two draft picks for Brown in March for a third-round pick (Diante Johnson) and a fifth-round pick (Zach Gentry).
