Former boxing world champion Adrien Broner discovered he was being sued for sexual battery while broadcasting live online, after a woman identified as Havana Saint filed a civil complaint alleging a series of incidents in California last month.
Former boxing world champion Adrien Broner found out he was being sued for sexual battery while livestreaming, after footage of the moment spread across social media. Broner, alongside fellow boxer and streamer Deen the Great, real name Nurideen Shahid Shabazz, learned of the lawsuit in real time after being directed to a TMZ report, which first revealed the case. The lawsuit, filed by a woman identified as Havana Saint, accuses Broner of sexual battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress in relation to an incident that allegedly took place in California in June. The allegations remain civil claims only, and no criminal charges have been announced.
The moment Broner found out
Footage shared online showed Deen the Great being told to check TMZ before informing Broner of the lawsuit. “Can’t make this s*** up, now I’m being sued,” Broner said, as members of his entourage laughed and made light of the accusation. Deen was heard responding: “He ain’t do s***, b****! Lyin’ ass, h*e.”
Allegations in the lawsuit
According to a civil complaint obtained by TMZ, Saint alleges that Broner pressured her into unwanted sexual acts, exposed himself to her, and doused her with ice water during a livestream after she rejected his advances. The complaint, filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.
The filing states that the alleged trouble began after a party on 2 June, where Saint claims Broner encouraged her to drink heavily. Having stayed at the residence because she was unable to drive home, Saint alleges Broner attempted to force himself on her despite her repeated refusals and explicit statements that she was not interested in men.
Days later, on 8 June, Saint says she encountered Broner again at a livestream content house in Los Angeles County, where she alleges he physically pulled her from the venue and forced her to go to his home in Encino. The lawsuit alleges that after she again refused to have sex with him, Broner doused her with ice water the following morning during a livestream, causing her severe humiliation and emotional distress. Saint alleges she suffered severe emotional distress, anxiety, humiliation and psychological trauma as a result of the alleged incidents, and says she feared for her safety after Broner allegedly continued making unwanted advances despite her repeated refusals.
Saint further alleges that Broner and Shabazz made defamatory statements about her during subsequent broadcasts, falsely claiming she had engaged in sexual relations with people at the content house, statements the lawsuit claims damaged her personal and professional reputation.
Who is named in the lawsuit
The lawsuit names Broner in relation to sexual battery, assault, defamation and emotional distress, while Shabazz is named separately in connection with defamation. The livestreaming platform Kick is also named as a defendant, accused of negligence for allegedly failing to take reasonable steps to prevent or respond to the alleged misconduct during broadcasts hosted on its platform.
As of the most recent court filings, neither Broner nor Shabazz had filed a formal legal response to the complaint. The allegations have not been proven in court, and the case is expected to proceed through the civil legal process unless it is settled or dismissed.
Previous controversy
This is not the first time Broner has faced public scrutiny over his conduct on a livestream. Last September, he was removed from rapper Cam’ron’s podcast after ignoring warnings to stop flirting with the show’s co-host. Sporting a greying beard and speaking in an increasingly raspy voice, the 36-year-old repeatedly interrupted the interview to make comments toward Treasure “Stat Baby” Wilson, who co-hosts “It Is What It Is” alongside Cam’ron and Ma$e. At one point, when asked a question about boxing’s welterweight division, Broner instead told Wilson: “Stat, I love you.”
The situation came to a head during a discussion about that Sunday’s NFL fixtures, when Broner appeared to catch himself mid-comment, 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*****,” before handing him a stack of cash. “I don’t have no problems with you, but I’m gonna pay you for your time,” Cam’ron said, adding: “You can’t violate, bro.” He went on to explain that Wilson’s boyfriend had been present on set at the time.
Background
A native of Cincinnati, Broner won the WBO Super Featherweight title at the age of 22 in 2011, and enjoyed a rapid rise through the boxing ranks. His career was later disrupted by a series of arrests, unexpected defeats and publicly discussed mental health struggles.
