Pelicans star Zion Williamson finds himself at the center of the spotlight after a damaging new lawsuit threatens to dismantle his legacy forever. According to Los Angeles court documents, Williamson is now facing allegations of rape and domestic violence against a woman claiming to be ex-girlfriend.
“Plaintiff and Defendant began a dating relationship in or around 2018 while the Defendant was a Freshman at Duke University. Plaintiff remained in a dating relationship with Defendant from 2018 through June 2023,” the statement says, via ESPN. “During the course of the relationship, Defendant engaged in a continuing pattern of abusive, controlling, and threatening behavior toward Plaintiff. The abuse was sexual, physical, emotional, and financial in nature.”
The rape, which reportedly occurred in the “fall of 2020,” in Beverley Hills, California. Besides abuse in the physical and emotional form, Zion also allegedly raped the victim and grabbed her phone away after she tried to call for help.
“On or about September 23, Defendant raped and assaulted Plaintiff. The plaintiff was picked up by the Defendant’s agent from a hotel where the Plaintiff’s brothers were staying. When Defendant got home, Plaintiff told Defendant that she was tired and wanted to go to sleep. Defendant called her a ‘stuck up’ and a b*tch’ and told her she could not go to sleep without having sex with him.”
The details are truly shocking and quite disturbing to read, but the full details have yet to be released. Since it happened in 2020, no legal charges will be pursued, and they are seeking justice in the civil court instead. Zion has yet to comment on the developing story, but it’s not a good look for the young NBA superstar, and his team will be working to beat the accusations and restore his legacy.
“We take these allegations with the utmost seriousness, and we unequivocally deny them,” Williamson’s attorneys at Barrasso Usdin Kupperman Freeman & Sarver LLC said in a statement. “The allegations contained in the complaint are categorically false and reckless. … This appears to be an attempt to exploit a professional athlete driven by a financial motive rather than any legitimate grievance.”
Sadly, this isn’t the first time that Zion has had relationship issues. According to one of his previous partners, Moriah Mills, Williamson used to beat her and then offer her large sums of cash to stay quiet about it. She exposed him on social media, for the whole world, but it didn’t stop him from making another poor woman his victim.
The Pelicans star, who turns 25 in July, has had a rocky career ever since leaving Duke. With averages of 24.7 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game, he’s been in and out of the lineup for the Pelicans with injuries and conditioning issues that have stunted his development.
After one of his worst seasons yet as a Pelican (14th in the West at 21-61) his career sits at a major crossroads, and it’ll be up to him how it ends. But until Zion gets sorted through all of his off-court drama, it’ll be impossible for him to focus on the game and helping his team win at all costs.
