Former boxing world champion Adrien Broner learned in real time, during a live stream, that he was being sued for sexual battery. Footage of the moment quickly spread across social media.
Broner is accused of sexual battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress by a woman identified as Havana Saint, who alleges the conduct occurred in California in June. The lawsuit was first reported by TMZ.
In the stream, Broner was joined by boxer and streamer Deen the Great, born Nurideen Shahid Shabazz, who is also named in the suit. Deen is seen telling Broner to look at TMZ's report before explaining the situation to him.
"Can't make this s*** up, now I'm being sued," Broner said, as the rest of his entourage began laughing at and making fun of the accusation. Deen responded, "He ain't do s***, b****! Lyin' ass, h*e."
What the lawsuit alleges
According to a civil complaint obtained by TMZ, Saint alleges that Broner pressured her into unwanted sexual acts, exposed himself and doused her with ice water during a live stream after she rejected his advances.
The filing states the trouble began after a June 2 after-party, where Saint claims Broner encouraged her to drink heavily. Unable to drive home, she stayed at the residence, where she alleges Broner tried to force himself on her despite her repeated refusals and explicit statements that she was not interested in men.
Days later, on June 8, Saint says she encountered Broner again at a live-stream content house in Los Angeles County, where he allegedly pulled her physically from the venue and forced her to go to his home in Encino. After she again refused to have sex with him, the lawsuit alleges, Broner doused her with ice water the following morning during a live stream, causing her severe humiliation and emotional distress.
Saint further alleges that Broner and Shabazz made defamatory statements during later broadcasts, falsely claiming she had engaged in sexual relations with people at the content house. The lawsuit names Broner for sexual battery, assault, defamation and emotional distress, names Shabazz for defamation, and names the streaming platform Kick for negligence.
Broner's history and recent controversy
Broner, a native of Cincinnati, won the WBO Super Featherweight title at 22 in 2011 and enjoyed a rapid rise in the boxing world before his career was derailed by a series of arrests, upset defeats and mental health issues.
In September, Broner was kicked off rapper Cam'ron's podcast, "It Is What It Is," after ignoring warnings to stop flirting with co-host Treasure "Stat Baby" Wilson. During a discussion of boxing's welterweight division, Broner told Wilson, "Stat, I love you." Later, while discussing NFL action, he stopped himself mid-sentence, saying, "I can't talk... You told me to stop."
Cam'ron then ended the interview, telling Broner, "Hey, we going to have to ask you to go, my n*****." He pulled cash from a bag and told Broner, "I don't have no problems with you, but I'm gonna pay you for your time... You can't violate, bro." Cam'ron said Wilson's boyfriend was on set at the time.
