NFL star Antonio Brown accused of raping former trainer in lawsuit

New England Patriots wide receiver Antonio Brown, a seven-time Pro Bowl selection and one of the NFL’s biggest stars, has been accused of raping a woman who formerly worked as his physical trainer, according to a federal lawsuit.

The civil complaint filed on Tuesday in US district court for the southern district of Florida alleges Brown sexually assaulted Britney Taylor, a gymnast he met while they attended Central Michigan University together.

The lawsuit, accuses Brown of assaulting Taylor on three separate occasions, twice in June 2017 and a third in May 2018, saying he “preyed on [her] kindness and her religious devotion, casting himself as a person equally dedicated to his religious faith and someone she could trust”.

Brown’s attorney, Darren Heitner, said in a statement issued Tuesday night the receiver “denies each and every allegation in the lawsuit” and that he and Taylor were involved in an “entirely consensual” personal relationship, describing the allegations as a “money grab”.