New Orleans Pelicans star, Zion Williamson, has responded to allegations of rape and sexual assault levelled against him in a lawsuit filed on Thursday by a woman claiming to be his ex-girlfriend and identified in the complaint as Jane Doe.
“We take these allegations with the utmost seriousness, and we unequivocally deny them,” Williamson’s lawyer stated. “The allegations contained in the complaint are categorically false and reckless. This is the plaintiff’s third set of attorneys.”
Williamson’s lawyer added that the NBA star never dated the accuser. “This appears to be an attempt to exploit a professional athlete driven by a financial motive rather than any legitimate grievance. Mr. Williamson and the plaintiff never dated, but did maintain a consensual, casual relationship.”
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The statement goes on to say Williamson and Jane Doe started dating more than six years ago when he was just 18 years old, and that the relationship ended years ago. It also states that the accuser could simply just be trying to extort Williamson.
“At no point during or immediately after that relationship did the plaintiff raise any concerns. Only after the friendship ended did she begin demanding millions of dollars,” the lawyer’s statement reads. “Mr. Williamson reported the plaintiff’s extortion attempts to law enforcement.”
The lawyer also revealed that it is their understanding that an arrest warrant was issued in connection to the report of extortion filed against the plaintiff, adding that Williamson intends to seek damages for defamation brought about by Jane Doe’s lawsuit.