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Antonio Brown accused of rape in federal lawsuit

The allegations against the New England Patriots wide receiver were filed in the Southern District of Florida by his former trainer and Central Michigan classmate.
 
In this Aug. 20, 2019, file photo, former Oakland Raiders' Antonio Brown walks off the field after NFL football practice in Alameda, Calif. Brown, who signed with the New England Patriots last weekend after being released by Oakland, is accused of rape by a former Central Michigan classmate in a federal lawsuit filed Tuesday. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)
In this Aug. 20, 2019, file photo, former Oakland Raiders' Antonio Brown walks off the field after NFL football practice in Alameda, Calif. Brown, who signed with the New England Patriots last weekend after being released by Oakland, is accused of rape by a former Central Michigan classmate in a federal lawsuit filed Tuesday. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File) [ JEFF CHIU | AP ]
Published Sept. 11, 2019|Updated Sept. 11, 2019

A lawsuit filed Tuesday accuses Patriots wide receiver Antonio Brown of raping a woman in 2017 and 2018.

The woman, Britney Taylor, said in a statement that “As a rape victim of Antonio Brown, deciding to speak out has been an incredibly difficult decision … Speaking out removes the shame that I have felt for the past year and places it on the person responsible for my rape. I will cooperate with the NFL and any other agencies; however, at this time, I respectfully request that the media please respect my privacy.”

The New York Times first reported the existence of the lawsuit. Taylor was a Central Michigan classmate and former trainer of Brown’s.

“Mr. Brown denies each and every allegation in the lawsuit. He will pursue all legal remedies to not only clear his name, but to protect other professional athletes against false allegations,” attorney Darren Heitner said in a statement released Tuesday night.

The civil complaint, filed in the Southern District of Florida on Tuesday, details three incidents, two in June 2017 and one in May 2018. The first says that Brown “grabbed and kissed her without her consent.”

The second account says that Brown hid behind Taylor, masturbated, and ejaculated on her back, later bragging about it text messages. The third says that Brown “forced her down onto a bed, pushed her face into the mattress, and forcibly raped her.”

Brown, maybe the best receiver in the NFL, was cut by the Raiders and signed by the Patriots on Saturday after what was already one of the most tumultuous offseasons ever.

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