Pelicans’ Zion Williamson sued for rape, years of abuse in bombshell lawsuit

New Orleans Pelicans ahead Zion Williamson has been accused of rape, in accordance with a lawsuit submitted to Los Angeles Superior Court docket on Thursday, along with “sexual, bodily, emotional and monetary” abuse over the span of a long-term relationship that began throughout Williamson’s freshman 12 months at Duke and lasted from 2018 to 2023.

The lady, recognized as Jane Doe within the lawsuit, accuses Williamson of a “persevering with sample of abusive, controlling and threatening habits” over the course of the multiyear relationship, per ESPN. The 12-page civil criticism says Williamson’s alleged actions occurred in a number of states, together with Louisiana and California, per ESPN’s report.

The lawsuit alleges that the primary occasion of sexual violence occurred in a house Williamson had rented in Beverly Hills, California and that he raped her twice in Los Angeles in 2020. It additionally alleges that he threatened to have his paid safety guard shoot Doe and kill the plaintiff’s dad and mom in Louisiana between 2020 and 2023.

The criticism consists of accusations of strangulation, being kicked, slammed with a automobile door and suffocated till Doe misplaced consciousness. The lawsuit seeks financial damages — together with punitive damages — for emotional misery.

Williamson’s New Orleans-based legal professional, Michael Balascio, mentioned Williamson and the plaintiff “by no means dated, however did preserve a consensual, informal relationship that started greater than six years in the past,” when Williamson was 18.

Balascio referred to as the claims within the lawsuit “categorically false and reckless.” Williamson’s attorneys additionally famous “at no level throughout or instantly after that relationship did the plaintiff increase any considerations,” including that “solely after the friendship ended did she start demanding tens of millions of {dollars}.” They added that Williamson had reported the lady’s “extortion makes an attempt” to regulation enforcement and that they plan to file a counterclaim.

“We take these allegations with the utmost seriousness, and we unequivocally deny them,” Balascio added. “This seems to be an try to use knowledgeable athlete pushed by a monetary motive fairly than any reputable grievance.”

“We and our shopper don’t need to litigate this case within the press,” Doe’s legal professional informed The Every day Mail. “Nevertheless, I’ll say this can be a very critical case as mirrored within the Grievance filed in Los Angeles County. 

“Our shopper appears to be like ahead to her day in court docket earlier than a jury of her friends to acquire justice on this matter.”

A two-time NBA All-Star, Williamson was the primary general choose by New Orleans in 2019. The 6-foot-6, 280-pound energy ahead has averaged 24.7 factors per recreation throughout six years within the league.

Williamson, who turns 25 subsequent month, has performed in solely 214 of 472 regular-season video games (45.3%) and 0 playoff video games over that span due to a collection of accidents, considered one of which brought on him to overlook the whole 2021-22 season. 

He appeared in 30 video games (all begins) for the 2024-25 marketing campaign earlier than struggling a season-ending again harm in March.

In April, Williamson was dragged into a house invasion incident involving the mom of his baby, although Williamson was not named within the affidavit.

The Related Press contributed to this report.

This can be a growing story.