Post by @dailymailsportusa

New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson is denying the claims of a woman accusing him of rape, saying the relationship was a consensual 'friends with benefits' arrangement. Williamson, who is facing the allegation from a Jane Doe, denies her claims that he assaulted her, according to legal documents obtained by TMZ. The basketball player issued a general denial of every allegation in the complaint, claiming that he did not harm her in any way. The Daily Mail has contacted attorneys representing Williamson and Doe for comment. Per the outlet, Williamson described the relationship as 'friendly and casual' and called their interactions 'pleasant and consensual.' He also claims the two never lived together, that Doe repeatedly tried to initiate sex while he was unavailable or out of town and insists there was never any assault or sexual battery. Williamson also says the relationship ended in May 2023, arguing that Doe's claims of assault, battery, sexual battery, domestic violence and stalking are all past the respective statutes of limitations. The basketball player, 26, also branded the domestic violence claim as 'nonsensical' - saying the two never lived together or interacted frequently enough to have their relationship considered domestic. The filing of the claims took place in California courts, but also covered alleged interactions in North Carolina, Texas and Louisiana. Williamson denies such conduct occurred in any of those four states, but also claimed that California laws covering sexual battery, domestic violence and stalking are not applicable in the other three states. The lawsuit in question, filed in late May in Los Angeles and obtained by the Daily Mail, accuses Williamson of rape and physical abuse by the Jane Doe - who claims to be the Pelicans star's former girlfriend. In addition to two specific rape allegations, the power forward is accused of a continuing pattern of 'abusive, controlling, and threatening behavior toward Plaintiff,' as detailed in the filing provided to Daily Mail by Doe's attorney. 'We and our client do not want to litigate this case in the press,' a statement at the time from the Lanier Law Firm's Sam Taylor began. 'However, I will say this is a very serious case as reflected in the Complaint filed in Los Angeles County. Our client looks forward to her day in court before a jury of her peers to obtain justice in this matter.' According to the filing, Doe and Williamson began dating around 2018 when he was attending Duke. They allegedly remained together through June of 2023, by which time he was playing in the NBA for the Pelicans. The Plaintiff claims Williamson controlled and harmed her throughout their relationship, adding that the abuse was 'sexual, physical, emotional and financial in nature.' In some cases, Doe claimed, Williamson would choke or smother her, causing her to 'reasonably fear for her life.' He's also accused of threatening her life and the lives of her family members. Williamson's attorneys at Usdin, Kupperman, Freeman & Sarver released a statement after the filing went public - denying the accusations and accusing the Plaintiff of 'demanding millions of dollars' in an 'attempt to exploit' their client. The statement goes on to claim that Williamson reported the Plaintiff's 'extortion attempts' to law enforcement, adding that he plans to file a counter claim seeking damages for the 'defamatory' lawsuit. #zionwilliamson #neworleanspelicans #NBA #basketball #sports