Dwight Howard’s Lawyer Confirms He Had Sexual Relationship w/ Man He Met Online, But Denies Any Assault Happened + Claims The Individual Is Extorting The Situation For Money
Dwight Howard’s Lawyer Confirms He Had Sexual Relationship w/ Man He Met Online, But Denies Any Assault Happened + Claims The Individual Is Extorting The Situation For Money
Key details surrounding the sexual assault case against former NBA star Dwight Howard have come to light.
According to a recent report from Radar Online, the athlete’s attorney did confirm his client was intimate with his accuser but the claims of sexual abuse are not true.
As previously reported, Dwight Howard, 37, was named in a lawsuit earlier this year that accused him of sexually assaulting a man named Stephen Harper, whom he met on Instagram in 2021. In the court document, Harper says he DM’d the hooper and exchanged several messages with him, which eventually turned explicit, before meeting up nearly three months later. At the meeting, the plaintiff claims he was forced to engage in sexual acts with Howard and another participant against his will. The athlete’s attorney, however, says the individual is simply looking for a payday.
Howard’s lawyer Justin Bailey reportedly released a statement about the lawsuit, stating:
“What was a private consensual encounter was made public for profit and Mr. Howard looks forward to bringing the truth to light in a court of law…The allegations against Mr. Howard are contested. ”
Adding:
“The truth is Mr. Howard blocked Mr. Harper on social media and then was confronted with two options – pay to protect his reputation or have a fabricated story made public…Despite being an easy target due to the subject matter and his status as a celebrity, Mr. Howard chose to trust in the justice system and will rely on all future court filings to speak for themselves.”
In the lawsuit, Harper claims he was shocked to learn Howard had invited the third individual by the name of “Kitty,” who he described as “a man dressed as a woman,” and demanded the three of them engage in sexual acts together, which the alleged victim says he rejected. Despite his refusal, Harper claims the athlete forced him out of his clothes and performed oral sex on him before pinning him over and continuing the assault. However, Howard’s lawyers also claim to have proof that Harper was well aware of the third party and consented to their sexual relations.
At this time it doesn’t appear that Howard has reacted publicly to updates about the lawsuit. However, it is noted that he’s requesting the entire case be thrown out. Harper is reportedly seeking an undisclosed amount in damages.
See reactions to the latest news surrounding Howard’s case below:
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