Antonio Brown settles civil suit alleging sexual assault
A representative for Antonio Brown said Wednesday the NFL wide receiver has settled his civil dispute with his former trainer Britney Taylor, who was engaged in litigation with Brown over allegations of sexual assault since 2019.
Alana Burstyn of Only For Music talent management released a statement from Brown’s attorney David Haas, saying that Brown and Taylor have resolved “aggressive litigation” and are moving forward.
“Antonio and Britney have been friends over a decade,” the statement reads. “Several years ago they almost became business partners. Recently, they were involved in aggressive litigation. Having reflected on their relationship, both feel that the time has come to move on. Antonio is grateful for Britney’s excellent training assistance. They are pleased that Antonio is doing so well with the [Tampa Bay] Bucs and has a ring.”
Burstyn added: “Their dispute is resolved and they wish each other great continued success."
Terms of the resolution were not disclosed, but a second source familiar with the case said a settlement was signed by both parties with an agreement to nondisclosure of terms, along with an agreement that Taylor and Brown would both withdraw opposing civil litigation against each other. The dispute has been pending in the federal court system in Florida since October of 2019, when Taylor filed a civil complaint against Brown alleging that he sexually assaulted her in 2018. Brown filed a civil countersuit against Taylor in November of 2019, alleging defamation that had cost him sponsorships and endorsements, and also damaged his football career.
The New England Patriots released Brown after only one game in 2019, following Taylor’s lawsuit and a second woman accusing him of sexual misconduct in a Sports Illustrated report. Brown sat out the remainder of the 2019 season as a free agent, during which the NFL conducted its own investigation into Brown’s behavior in multiple incidents beyond the sexual assault allegations. Brown was ultimately suspended for eight games in the 2020 season by commissioner Roger Goodell, who determined that Brown violated the league’s personal conduct policy during a handful of different incidents.
After receiving the endorsement of quarterback Tom Brady, Brown was ultimately signed by Tampa Bay last October. Following the lifting of his suspension, he played the final eight games of the regular season and three postseason games, catching a touchdown in the Buccaneers’ 31-9 win over the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV.
While Tampa Bay has offered Brown a deal to return, the two sides have yet to reach an agreement this offseason and Brown remains a free agent.
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