Dwight Howard is asking the courts to dismiss a civil lawsuit accusing him of sexual assault and battery against a male he admittedly hooked up with.
In court documents obtained by ESPN, Howard admitted to engaging in “consensual sexual activity” with a man named Stephen Harper in July 2021, but the former NBA star denies causing any injury.
Howard, 37, confessed Oct. 23, in response to the lawsuit Harper filed in July accusing the former Los Angeles Lakers player of sexually assaulting him at his Georgia home two years prior. Harper claims to have met up with him after they spent a few months corresponding through Instagram direct messages.
Harper initiated the exchange in May 2021, according to ESPN’s Baxter Holmes. The lawsuit claims Howard told Harper that he was into “freaky” sexual stuff and requested explicit photos from Harper, Radar Online reports.
According to the filing, Harper did engage in text messages with the basketball star, which included “sexually explicit content, such as photographs and videos.” He then invited Harper to his home on July 19, 2021, where they “engaged in consensual kissing,” the suit states.
However, Harper claims Howard surprised him when another man came out dressed as a woman who went by the name Kitty. Harper accuses Howard of trying to force a threesome; Harper declined. Howard reportedly proceeded to stroke Harper’s “penis through his underwear,” and after Harper told him to stop, Howard allegedly told him he was “going to do whatever” and he was “going to like it.”
“Defendant stood up (towering over Mr. Harper), grabbed Mr. Harper by the thighs, forcibly removed Mr. Harper’s underwear, held Mr. Harper down, and performed nonconsensual oral sex on Mr. Harper,” the suit states.
“Mr. Harper was in fear of imminent bodily harm when he was pinned down and forced to remain in place while Defendant continued to sexually assault him.”
Harper claims the 6’10” Howard, who in his playing days weighed 265 pounds, only stopped performing the sexual act on him when he realized Harper wasn’t enjoying it. Harper also said he arranged for Kitty to drive Harper home after the exchange.
Howard is denying Harper’s claims of alleged sexual assault and claims the lawsuit was only filed after Howard blocked him on social media and rejected his demands for money.
“This report was made following Mr. Harper being blocked on social media and after the first demand for payment was rejected,” Howard’s attorney, Justin Bailey said.
Howard is requesting the dismissal of the lawsuit. He hasn’t played in the NBA since the 2021-22 with the Los Angeles Lakers.
The eight-time All-Star and a three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year spent the early part of the year playing basketball in Taiwan.
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