Zion Williamson Denies Rape Allegations in Lawsuit

Zion Williamson has formally pushed back against a rape and abuse lawsuit, characterizing his past relationship with the accuser as nothing more than a consensual “friends with benefits” arrangement and denying any assault took place.

In new legal filings obtained by TMZ, the New Orleans Pelicans star issues a blanket denial of every allegation in the Jane Doe complaint. His position is blunt: she was not harmed by him in any way.

Williamson describes the pair’s interactions as “pleasant and consensual,” saying they never lived together and never had the kind of ongoing, shared domestic life that could underpin a domestic violence claim. He labels their sexual relationship “friendly and casual,” and says Doe repeatedly tried to initiate sex, including times when he was unavailable or out of town.

According to the filings, Williamson says the relationship ended by May 2023. From there, his legal strategy leans heavily on timing and jurisdiction. He argues that her claims for assault, battery, sexual battery, domestic violence, and stalking are all barred by the relevant statutes of limitations.

He goes further on the domestic violence allegation, calling it “nonsensical” on the grounds that they did not cohabit or interact frequently enough for the law to consider their relationship domestic in nature.

Williamson’s response also challenges where the law can reach. He contends that California statutes on sexual battery, domestic violence, and stalking do not govern alleged conduct that took place in North Carolina, Texas, and Louisiana. He maintains that no such misconduct occurred in those states, in California, or anywhere else.

The lawsuit, first reported by TMZ, accuses Williamson of raping and terrorizing the woman over several years. He has consistently denied those accusations and has previously claimed she is attempting to extort him.

The legal fight now moves from headlines to the hard grind of the courtroom, where every detail of that “friendly and casual” relationship will be tested under oath.