Zion Williamson sued over allegations of rape, years of abuse

A lady has accused New Orleans Pelicans ahead Zion Williamson of rape along with “sexual, physical, emotional and financial” abuse over the span of a multiyear relationship, in line with a lawsuit submitted to Los Angeles Superior Court docket on Thursday.

The lady, who’s recognized as Jane Doe, accuses Williamson of a “continuing pattern of abusive, controlling and threatening behavior” over the course of a relationship that began throughout Williamson’s freshman yr at Duke and lasted from 2018 to 2023.

The 12-page civil criticism, obtained by ESPN, says Williamson’s alleged actions occurred in a number of states, together with Louisiana and California.

The court docket submitting particulars two alleged incidents of rape in 2020, the primary going down that September in Beverly Hills, California. In accordance with the criticism, the lady advised Williamson “she was tired and wanted to go to sleep” however Williamson advised her she couldn’t fall asleep with out having intercourse with him. He then allegedly pinned her down along with her fingers behind her again and raped her. The submitting added that Williamson threw the lady’s cellphone throughout the room afterward and choked her.

A second rape allegedly occurred in October 2020, additionally in Beverly Hills. The lady says she was “violently raped” after expressing plans to go to a pal in San Diego. In each cases, the lady accused Williamson of taking her cellphone for “a period of time.”

Along with the rape allegations, the lawsuit particulars accusations of strangulation “with such force that she reasonably feared for her life and eventually lost consciousness multiple times.” The lady additionally accuses Williamson of getting into her house with out consent and stealing her belongings.

The lawsuit accuses Williamson of “threatening to kill” the lady and her members of the family a number of instances.

The lady is in search of financial damages, together with punitive damages, for emotional misery. A supply advised ESPN that the lady is in search of “anywhere from $18 million to $50 million.”

“We take these allegations with the utmost seriousness, and we unequivocally deny them,” Williamson’s attorneys at Barrasso Usdin Kupperman Freeman & Sarver LLC mentioned in a press release. “The allegations contained in the complaint are categorically false and reckless. … This appears to be an attempt to exploit a professional athlete driven by a financial motive rather than any legitimate grievance.”

The attorneys say that Williamson and the lady had a “consensual, casual relationship” that ended years in the past and that “at no point during or immediately after that relationship did the plaintiff raise any concerns.” They added that Williamson had reported the lady’s “extortion attempts” to legislation enforcement and that he plans to file a counterclaim.

“While these allegations are false, we recognize the seriousness of the claims and welcome the opportunity to prove the truth in court. We are confident that the legal process will expose the truth and fully vindicate Mr. Williamson,” the attorneys mentioned.

The lady’s legal professional, Sam Taylor II, who’s with the Lanier Legislation Agency in Los Angeles, mentioned they’d be “very cautious about litigating this in the press.”

“This is a very serious case as reflected in the allegations in the complaint, which are pretty detailed,” Taylor mentioned, including that his consumer “genuinely looks forward to her day in court when she can tell a jury of her peers what happened to her and seek justice.”

A Pelicans spokesperson deferred remark to Williamson’s authorized crew.

Williamson, 24, performed one season at Duke earlier than the Pelicans drafted him in 2019 with the primary total decide. Regardless of incomes two All-Star nods, Williamson has largely underachieved all through his profession on account of accidents which have restricted him to 30 or fewer video games in three of his 5 NBA seasons. He additionally sat out the 2021-22 season on account of damage.

He averaged 24.6 factors whereas enjoying 30 video games in 2024-25, taking pictures 56.7% from the sector whereas averaging a career-high-tying 7.2 rebounds and a career-best 5.3 assists. The Pelicans shut down Williamson in March due to a decrease again contusion suffered in a fall in opposition to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

On July 15, Williamson’s contract for the 2025-26 season turns into assured. He represented New Orleans this month on the NBA draft lottery because the Pelicans walked away with the No. 7 decide.

The Related Press contributed to this report.