Antonio Brown reaches settlement with former live-in chef

Antonio Brown and his former live-in chef, who revealed that the Bucs receiver used a fake COVID-19 vaccination card — resulting in a three-game suspension for Brown and two others — have settled their financial dispute.

Steven Ruiz, the owner of Taste ThatLA, confirmed to the Tampa Bay Times on Monday that he had “satisfactorily resolved” the dispute with Brown but declined to reveal terms.

Ruiz previously had claimed Brown owed him $10,000, and his failed efforts to collect eventually led him to reveal details of the Bucs receiver lying about his vaccination status to skirt strict NFL protocols.

Brown, safety Mike Edwards and free-agent receiver John Franklin III each received three-game suspensions from the league — which ended after Sunday’s game against the Saints — for “misrepresenting their vaccination status.”

Ruiz met Brown in Los Angeles in June and invited him to become his personal chef while living in his Davis Islands home. Ruiz was part of Brown’s entourage and would run errands for the Pro Bowl receiver.

But the two had a falling out on Sept. 9, the day of the Bucs’ season opener against the Dallas Cowboys, over an invoice that Ruiz submitted stating he was owed $10,000. Ruiz’s salary was $750 per day.

• • •

Sign up for the Bucs RedZone newsletter to get updates and analysis on the latest team and NFL news from Bucs beat writer Joey Knight.

Never miss out on the latest with the Bucs, Rays, Lightning, Florida college sports and more. Follow our Tampa Bay Times sports team on Twitter and Facebook.