New England Patriots wide receiver Antonio Brown accused of raping and sexually assaulting former personal trainer
New England Patriots star Antonio Brown has been accused of raping and sexually assaulting his former personal trainer according to a federal lawsuit filed in Florida on Tuesday.
The 31-year-old Brown allegedly hired gymnast Britney Taylor whom he knew from Central Michigan University in June 2017. According to the lawsuit seen by NBC News, 28-year-old Taylor claimed that Brown had sexually assaulted her twice that month and then in May 2018 again.
An attorney for Brown, Darren Heitner has denied all the allegations that have been made. He released a statement where he said that his client denies each and every allegation that has been made against him. "He will pursue all legal remedies to not only clear his name, but to also protect other professional athletes against false accusations."
In June, Brown had allegedly flown Taylor to his home in Pittsburgh for training and did not book her a hotel. Taylor has claimed that while she was getting dressed in the bathroom, Brown walked in with his penis exposed. She had tried to cover her eyes and walk out when he grabbed and kissed her, the lawsuit continued.
She then brushed off the incident hoping to be able to maintain a professional relationship with the athlete. Later that month, he tried to assault her again. The lawsuit claimed, "Unbeknownst to Ms. Taylor, while she was focused on a religious video, Brown began masturbating behind her. Before she knew it or understood what was happening, Brown ejaculated on her."
He then reportedly bragged about the incidents on text message. She cut herself off from Brown until he reached out to her in 2018 to try and apologize. She started to work for Brown again in April last year. Taylor has claimed that a month after she started to work for him again, he raped her after a night out with friends in Miami.
In the lawsuit, she has alleged that Brown had asked to speak to her in his bedroom after she dropped him and a friend back home. After talking for a few minutes, he cornered her and raped her. Taylor released a statement saying, "I have found strength in my faith, my family, and from the accounts of other survivors of sexual assault. Speaking out removes the shame that I have felt for the past year and places it on the person responsible for my rape."