Dwight Howard, a former NBA star, is firmly denying the sexual assault allegations brought against him in a civil lawsuit filed in Georgia in July, asserting that the encounter in question was consensual.
In his recent court filing, Howard emphasized that the sexual activity with a man named Stephen Harper at his Georgia home in July 2021 was consensual. Howard acknowledged his interest in meeting Harper in Atlanta over the summer after their communication via text and Instagram messages, including the exchange of sexually explicit content.
Harper’s claims detailed in the lawsuit suggested that, during their meeting at Howard’s residence, a friend of Howard’s arrived, leading to a distressing situation for Harper. Harper alleged that despite expressing his disinterest in engaging in certain activities, he felt confined and overpowered in Howard’s bedroom, believing he would suffer harm if he resisted.
Howard, in response, contended that all three parties involved had mutually agreed to the activities.
Harper reported the incident to the Gwinnett County Police Department in July 2022, identifying Howard as his “ex-boyfriend.” No charges were filed, and the attempts to formally interview Harper reportedly yielded no response from him.
In a statement, Justin Bailey, one of Howard’s lawyers, highlighted that the allegations against Howard were contested, and that Howard was looking forward to revealing the truth in court. Meanwhile, Olga Izmaylova, a lawyer for Harper, emphasized Harper’s exercise of legal rights and refuted the claims of extortion made by Howard.
On another note, it has come to light that Dwight Howard has faced similar allegations before, as a man named Masin Elije has come forward, echoing Harper’s claims. Elije had previously filed a lawsuit against Howard in 2018 and has expressed support for Harper’s case, indicating that he believes Harper’s account.
It is essential to note that Elije also revealed unsettling experiences with “Kitty,” the third individual mentioned in Harper’s lawsuit against Howard. Elije stated that he had faced harassment and manipulation from this individual and felt compelled to speak out about his past experiences.
As of now, Dwight Howard’s legal team continues to contest the allegations, while both parties await further developments in the legal proceedings.