Pelicans owner Gayle Benson breaks silence on Zion Williamson rape lawsuit
New Orleans Pelicans' star forward Zion Williamson is facing legal trouble, as he's in a lawsuit facing rape allegations. The organization has been quiet about the allegations so far; however, on Tuesday, team owner Gayle Benson broke her silence and addressed the situation.
Advertisement
While talking with reporters of WWL-TV, an affiliate of CBS News based in New Orleans, Benson sort of brushed Williamson's lawsuit off her shoulders, claiming that people sue others for all sorts of reasons. Zion Williamson is innocent until proven guilty, and that's the exact approach the Pelicans' owner is taking on this matter. Benson is seemingly supporting Williamson with the lawsuit ongoing.
'You know, lawsuits are lawsuits… People can sue for anything. There's no reason. You can be innocent or not. So, it's just something that people do. Unfortunately.'
Zion Williamson faces serous allegations that involve rape, physical assault, and death threats. Shortly after the lawsuit was made public, Williamson's legal team issued a statement, acknowledging the seriousness of the allegations while also denying them, according to Will Guillory of The Athletic.
Advertisement
'We take these allegations with the utmost seriousness, and we unequivocally deny them,' Williamson's legal team said in a statement. 'The allegations contained in the complaint are categorically false and reckless. This is the plaintiff's third set of attorneys. This appears to be an attempt to exploit a professional athlete driven by a financial motive rather than any legitimate grievance.'
The 24-year-old forward has not made any public statements regarding the allegations. Instead, Zion Williamson is letting his legal team take charge of the lawsuit. In the meantime, the Pelicans star is involved in trade rumors with the offseason quickly approaching.
Williamson played just 30 games for New Orleans this season as he's been dealing with a bone bruise in his lower back. However, when healthy, he is undeniably one of the best players on the court. Zion Williamson ended the 2024-25 campaign averaging 24.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 56.7% from the floor and 23.1% from the three-point line.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
22 minutes ago
- Yahoo
3 people accused of yelling homophobic slurs at several people in Mass. town
Three people are facing disorderly conduct charges after police say they drove through Provincetown, Massachusetts, yelling homophobic slurs at several people through air horns.
Yahoo
23 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Yankees' World Series starting outfielder was just cut by the Braves
The New York Yankees gave Alex Verdugo a fresh start in 2024, but the opportunity came with more questions than answers. Verdugo spent most of the season as the Yankees' starting left fielder, even appearing in the World Series. It wasn't pretty. Advertisement He slashed a lackluster line and finished with just 0.6 fWAR across 149 games. His 84 wRC+ told the full story. When the offseason came, Verdugo entered free agency without much fanfare. Interest was tepid across the league. Eventually, the Atlanta Braves threw him a lifeline with a low-risk, $1.5 million deal signed on March 20. The contract allowed Verdugo to begin the year in Triple-A, and he did just that. But he wasn't there long. After just nine games in the minors, Atlanta brought him up—hopeful he could provide a stable left-handed bat. For a brief moment, it seemed like Verdugo might finally turn a corner. He opened hot, spraying line drives early. Advertisement But as pitchers adjusted, Verdugo fell back into the habits that plagued his Yankees tenure—weak contact and little power. Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports Jurickson Profar's Return Ends Verdugo's Short Run According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Braves have now designated Verdugo for assignment. 'Clearing a spot for the return of Jurickson Profar,' Rosenthal wrote on X, signaling the end of Verdugo's Braves chapter. Profar had served an 80-game suspension for performance-enhancing drugs and was ready to reclaim his roster spot. In essence, Atlanta chose to reinstate their star offseason acquisition rather than keep Verdugo's bat in the lineup. Advertisement In 56 games with the Braves, Verdugo hit just .239 with a .296 on-base percentage and a brutal .289 slugging. Even worse, he didn't hit a single home run in 213 plate appearances, leading to a dreadful 66 wRC+. Advanced metrics were even less kind. His -0.9 fWAR placed him among the least valuable players in the majors. What began as a small gamble for Atlanta quickly turned into a roster liability they couldn't afford to carry. Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images Verdugo's Future Is Now Clouded With Uncertainty Verdugo now finds himself in baseball limbo. He'll hit waivers, and teams have the option to claim him. If no club takes a flier, he'll be able to elect free agency or accept an assignment to Triple-A Gwinnett. Advertisement Given his current production, it's hard to imagine many teams lining up to add him to their big league roster. It's been a startling fall for a player once viewed as a key part of Boston's return in the Mookie Betts trade. Verdugo always had promise—solid defense, a quick lefty swing, a good feel for contact—but his bat has simply vanished. At this point, he's a player without a defined role: not quite a starter, not productive enough for the bench. It feels like watching an actor forget his lines onstage—there's history, there's talent, but the spotlight has moved on. Verdugo is only 28, and baseball careers can turn on a dime. A swing adjustment or new environment might help. Advertisement But the harsh reality is that back-to-back poor seasons have dimmed his shine, and his leash keeps getting shorter. A few years ago, he was supposed to be a cornerstone. Now, he's trying to simply stay in the conversation. READ MORE: Yankees throw star infielder under the bus to appease veteran still owed $30 million Related Headlines
Yahoo
23 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Warriors agree to historic seven-team trade involving two-time NBA champion Kevin Durant
The Golden State Warriors will be involved in a historic seven-team trade involving two-time NBA champion Kevin Durant in early July. According to the Stein Line's Jack Fischer, the deal has been agreed upon by all parties (Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets, Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Phoenix Suns) as of July 3. Advertisement 'While we sift through the Jonas Valanciunas developments in Denver (Nuggets), the NBA-record seven-team trade that will send Kevin Durant to Houston has been fully agreed to in principle,' Fischer reported on X/Twitter Thursday. While the deal won't land Golden State any game-changing assets (Alex Toohey and Jahmal Mashack), it's still worth noting that the Dubs will be a part of a deal like none other. The Athletic's Fred Katz broke the news regarding the potential trade on Wednesday, noting that the public shouldn't expect any new surprises. 'In a would-be seven-team trade, there is an unprecedented amount of detail,' Katz stated. "Unfortunately, while a seven-team trade would make for a thrilling topic at a cocktail party, there haven't been many unexpected developments in these negotiations." Advertisement Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp Last summer, the Warriors sent franchise legend Klay Thompson to the Dallas Mavericks in a massive six-team trade, making them no strangers to completing deals involving multiple parties. If Fisher's report holds merit, Golden State will break its previous record and join an exclusive club in the next couple of days. More NBA: Warriors sign Jayson Tatum's former 6-foot-10 teammate as potential Kevon Looney replacement
