Patriots WR Antonio Brown Accused Of Sexual Assault & Rape

Update:

The New England Patriots have issued the following statement regarding the allegations made against WR Antonio Brown:

“We are aware of the civil lawsuit that was filed earlier today against Antonio Brown, as well as the response by Antonio’s representatives. 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.”

According to Ben Shpigel of the New York Times, Patriots WR Antonio Brown has been accused of three separate incidents of sexual assault and rape, according to a federal lawsuit filed on Tuesday in Florida. 

According to the report, the lawsuit against Brown involved three separate incidents claiming that Brown sexually assaulted and forced himself on a woman named Britney Taylor, who is a gymnast he met while they were attending Central Michigan. Brown later hired Taylor as a trainer.

Brown is accused of sexually assaulting Taylor twice during training sessions in June of 2017. The lawsuit claims Brown exposed himself and kissed her without her permission.

“Later that month, Brown, while positioned behind her, began masturbating near her without her knowledge and ejaculated on her back.”

Per the lawsuit, Brown bragged about the incident in text messages that are included in the lawsuit.

Taylor ended her working relationship with Brown, but later relented after he contacted her and apologized. In May of 2018, Brown forced her onto a bed, allegedly pushing her face into a mattress and “forcibly” raped her. Taylor tried to resist Brown and shouted “no” and “stop” but Brown refused, according to the lawsuit.

Taylor issued the following statement:

“As a rape victim of Antonio Brown, deciding to speak out has been an incredibly difficult decision. I have found strength in my faith, my family, and from the accounts of other survivors of sexual assault.”

Taylor’s lawsuit is seeking compensation for “physical injuries, pain and suffering, humiliation, embarrassment, stress and anxiety, loss of self-esteem and self-confidence, and emotional pain and suffering.”

She’s also looking for an unspecified amount in punitive damages.

Brown’s legal representation issued the following statement regarding the claims:

STATEMENT REGARDING ANTONIO BROWN: https://t.co/yvEcRyilbt pic.twitter.com/0K9G8vJeG1

— Darren Heitner (@DarrenHeitner) September 11, 2019

Josina Anderson reports that Brown intends to countersue his accuser for civil extortion, at this time.

Brown, 31, is a former sixth-round pick of the Steelers back in 2010. He was in the third year of his five-year, $72.71 million contract when the Steelers traded him to the Raiders back in March. 

The Raiders later signed Brown to a new contract worth $50.125 million and includes $30.125 million guaranteed. However, Oakland made the decision to release Brown on Saturday, making him an unrestricted free agent and he later signed a one-year deal worth up to $15 million with the Patriots. 

In 2018, Brown appeared in 15 games for the Steelers and caught 104 passes for 1,297 yards and 15 touchdowns. Pro Football Focus had him rated as the No. 26 receiver out of 117 qualifying players.

We’ll have more regarding Brown as the news is available.