NFL wide receiver Antonio Brown, just signed by the New England Patriots, is accused of raping his former trainer, according to a federal lawsuit the trainer filed Tuesday in Florida.
Brown was released over the weekend by the Oakland Raiders.
According to the allegations outlined in the lawsuit, which Brown denies, Britney Taylor claims that Brown forced her onto a bed and raped her while she shouted for him to stop, leaving her traumatized.
"Brown preyed on Ms. Taylor’s kindness and her religious devotion, casting himself as a person equally dedicated to his religious faith and someone she could trust," reads the complaint, filed in the U.S. Southern District Court of Florida. "In reality, he used manipulation and false promises to lure her into his world, and once there, he sexually assaulted and raped her."
Before raping Taylor in May 2018, the lawsuit alleges, Brown exposed himself to her and kissed her during a training session in 2017. Weeks later, he allegedly ejaculated on her back and bragged about it in text messages.
Those two incidents prompted her to stop working with him, according to the lawsuit, but she agreed to train him again after reaching out and promising to "cease any sexual advances."
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Brown learned of the lawsuit the day it was filed and "denies each and every allegation" in it, a lawyer representing him said in a statement.
The lawyer said that Brown and his accuser had "a consensual personal relationship" and that any sexual interactions were consensual.
In a separate statement posted to her lawyer's website, Taylor said, "As a rape victim of Antonio Brown, deciding to speak out has been an incredibly difficult decision."
The allegation comes after a tumultuous professional offseason for Brown, who was released from the Oakland Raiders after a confrontation with its general manager following missed practices and other training camp drama.
A spokesman for the NFL declined comment, but the Patriots said the league told the team it will launch an investigation.
"We are aware of the civil lawsuit that was filed earlier today against Antonio Brown, as well as the response by Antonio's representatives," the Patriots said in a statement. "We take these allegations very seriously. Under no circumstance does this organization condone sexual violence or assault. The league has informed us that they will be investigating. We will have no further comment while that investigation takes place."
NBC10 Boston does not usually identify victims of sexual assault unless they grant permission.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
