Ex-girlfriend supposedly accuses Pelicans' Zion Williamson of rape.
Zion Williamson, the star forward for the New Orleans Pelicans, is embroiled in a civil lawsuit over allegations of rape and multiple forms of abuse. Jane Doe, previously Williamson's alleged college girlfriend, filed the lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court on May 29, 2025.
The alleged abusive relationship began in 2018, when both Williamson and Jane Doe were freshmen at Duke University. The lawsuit accuses Williamson of a "continuing pattern of abusive, controlling, and threatening behavior" towards Jane Doe during their relationship.
The first rape allegedly occurred on September 23, 2020, in Beverly Hills, California, where Williamson had relocated for training. According to the lawsuit, Williamson returned home late that night, insisted on having sex, and when Jane Doe refused, he allegedly pinned her hands behind her back, raped her, destroyed her phone, and choked her.
A second rape allegation is detailed in the court documents, with the incident taking place at the same home on October 10, 2020. In addition to the physical and sexual abuse, the lawsuit alleges that Williamson threatened to kill Jane Doe and her parents, engaged in extremely controlling behavior, such as following her home from work and regularly taking her phone and laptop to look through.
As of May 30, 2025, neither Zion Williamson nor the New Orleans Pelicans have issued any official comments or public responses regarding these allegations.
[1] LA Superior Court filing: Jane Doe v. Zion Williamson, May 29, 2025[2] Various media reports, May 29 - May 30, 2025
- Despite the ongoing civil lawsuit filed by Jane Doe in Los Angeles Superior Court, Zion Williamson's name continues to be associated with general news, sports, and crime-and-justice headlines, also drawing attention in the entertainment and celebrity sector.
- Amidst allegations of rape, physical and sexual abuse, and threatening behavior towards Jane Doe, Zion Williamson's legal woes extend beyond the basketball court, impacting not just his professional sports career but also his public image in the broader entertainment landscape.
