New Orleans Pelicans star forward Zion Williamson is facing a wave of disturbing allegations after a civil lawsuit was filed in California this week, accusing the former No. 1 NBA draft pick of rape, kidnapping, and sustained physical abuse spanning several years and multiple U.S. states.
The lawsuit, filed by a woman under the pseudonym “Jane Doe,” was submitted to Los Angeles Superior Court and outlines alleged incidents of extreme violence, psychological terror, and repeated sexual assault. Doe claims the abuse began in 2020, shortly after Williamson entered the NBA, and continued until their relationship ended in 2023.
Disturbing Allegations Across Three States
According to the lawsuit, the plaintiff says she first met Williamson in 2018 while he was still a college basketball sensation at Duke University. The relationship allegedly took a dark turn two years later when, during a visit to Williamson’s rented home in Beverly Hills on September 23, 2020, he allegedly raped and choked her after she told him she was tired and wanted to sleep.
The complaint claims Williamson became enraged, hurled derogatory insults, physically restrained her, and sexually assaulted her while intoxicated and under the influence of drugs. She further alleges that he reeked of alcohol and had consumed cocaine prior to the incident.
A second assault is said to have occurred just weeks later on October 10, 2020, after she told him she planned to visit friends. The suit alleges he sexually assaulted her again, confiscated her phone and laptop, and prevented her from leaving or seeking medical help.
“These were not isolated incidents,” the lawsuit states. Doe accuses Williamson of continued abuse over the course of three years, claiming he raped, beat, and threatened her in California, Louisiana, and Texas. In one particularly chilling accusation, she alleges that Williamson pointed a loaded firearm at her head and threatened to kill her and her parents.
The civil complaint also details instances where she says she was kidnapped, locked in a car against her will, beaten unconscious, and repeatedly denied access to help. In one incident, she claims Williamson slammed a car door on her head while she attempted to flee.
Williamson’s Camp Responds: “Financially Motivated Attack”
Zion Williamson’s legal team has issued a strong denial. His attorney, Michael Balascio, refuted the claims, calling them “unequivocally false” and described the relationship between Williamson and Doe as “consensual and casual.”
Balascio also stated that no complaints or warnings were raised during the course of the alleged relationship. “Only after the friendship ended did she begin demanding millions of dollars,” he said, framing the lawsuit as an extortion attempt. He also noted that an arrest warrant had previously been issued against the plaintiff over similar threats.
“This appears to be an attempt to exploit a professional athlete driven by a financial motive rather than any legitimate grievance,” Balascio said.
Williamson and his legal team have indicated plans to file a countersuit and seek damages for reputational harm and emotional distress.
Legal Teams Prepare for a Long Battle
Doe is being represented by Sam E. Taylor of The Lanier Law Firm, who told media outlets, “This is a very serious case as reflected in the pleadings that have been filed. Our client looks forward to her day in court to seek justice.”
Neither the NBA nor the New Orleans Pelicans have issued official statements as of Friday evening.
What’s Next?
The lawsuit now enters early legal proceedings, with both sides preparing for a protracted and highly publicized legal battle. If the case proceeds to trial, it could become one of the most closely watched legal sagas involving a professional athlete in recent memory.
For now, Zion Williamson remains active on the Pelicans roster, and no criminal charges have been filed. The outcome of the civil suit could have wide-ranging implications both on and off the court.
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