Professional football player Antonio Brown and his former trainer have reached a settlement over accusations of sexual assault two years ago.
Britney Taylor, a gymnast, sued the NFL star in 2019 after she alleged Brown, 32, assaulted her multiple times and raped her in one instance. Brown has denied the allegations and has insisted the litigation was a retaliatory response to his refusal to invest $1.5 million in her business.
“Antonio and Britney have been friends for over a decade. Several years ago they almost became business partners. Recently, they were involved in aggressive litigation,” Taylor’s attorney David Haas told NBC News in a joint statement with a representative for Brown, Alana Burstyn. “Having reflected on their relationship, both feel that the time has come to move on. Antonio is grateful for Britney’s excellent training assistance. They are pleased that Antonio is doing so well with the Bucs and has a ring. Their dispute is resolved and they wish each other great continued success.”
Haas confirmed the development to the Washington Examiner.
PATRIOTS RELEASE WIDE RECEIVER ANTONIO BROWN OVER SEXUAL MISCONDUCT ALLEGATIONS
Taylor said the alleged sexual misconduct began in 2017. At the time, she stopped training the NFL player but resumed working with him in 2018 after an apology. A month after the renewal of their contract, Taylor claimed that Brown raped her in her bedroom while she tried to fight him off.
In September 2019, the New England Patriots cut Brown from the team after the allegations were made public. At the time, the wide receiver was accused of sexual assault by two women, and he was said to have threatened a number of people involved with the inquiry in a series of text messages. He had only played in one game before his release.
“The New England Patriots are releasing Antonio Brown,” the team wrote. “We appreciate the hard work of many people over the past 11 days, but we feel that it is best to move in a different direction at this time.”
Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson is also facing a multitude of sexual misconduct allegations. The Houston Police Department has commenced an investigation into the football player’s behavior after 21 civil suits were filed against him, most of which accused the NFL star of assaulting massage therapists.
In early April, Ashley Solis, the first woman to identify herself publicly as an accuser, came forward, claiming she “can no longer practice” massage therapy following his supposed sexual advances.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
“I am a survivor of assault and harassment. Deshaun Watson is my assaulter and my harasser. Deshaun Watson assaulted and harassed me on March 30, 2020, at my own home doing what I love most: massage therapy,” Solis said during a press conference.
She continued: “I can no longer practice the profession I love the most without shaking. … I hope he knew how heartbreaking that is to me,” she continued, adding that she’s “not afraid anymore” to come forward.
Watson, 25, has broadly denied the allegations and his lawyer, Rusty Hardin, said his client will “fully cooperate” with the police inquiry.
