NBA

Dwight Howard denies sexually assaulting man in bombshell lawsuit, claims it was ‘consensual encounter’

By
Jenna Lemoncelli
Published Oct. 25, 2023, 12:12 p.m. ET

Former NBA center Dwight Howard has denied sexual assault and battery allegations stemming from a July 2021 incident at hisšŸŒœ Georgia residence with a man named Stephen Harper, according to a civil lawsuit obtained by The Post.

An attorney for Howard, who currently plays in the Taiwanese pro basketball league, said his client is looking forward to “presenting the truth” in court.

“What was a private consensual encounter was made public for profit and Mr. Howard looks forward to bringing the truth to light in a court of law,” . “The allegations against Mr. Howard are contested. Mr. Howard intends to present the truth….

“Despite being an easy target due to the subject matter and his status as a celebrity, Mr. Howard chose to trust in the justice system and will rely on all future court filings to speak for themselves.”

Center Dwight Howard #12 of the Taoyuan Leopards reacts at the court during the T1 League game between TaiwanBeer HeroBears and Taoyuan Leopards at University of Taipei Tianmu Gymnasium on February 19, 2023 in Taipei, Taiwan.
Dwight Howard #12 of the Taoyuan Leopards reacts at the court during the T1 League game between TaiwanBeer HeroBears and Taoyuan Leopards at University of Taipei Tianmu Gymnasium on February 19, 2023 in Taipei, Taiwan. Getty Images

Per the court documents, Howard said he engaged in “consensual sexual activity” with Harper, but denied causing any injury to Harper while they were at Howard’s home in July 2021.

The encounter took place after Harper’s lawyers said in their initial filing that their client initiated communication with Howard over direct messages on Instagram in May 2021, according to ESPN.

Howard also denied allegations of “intentional infliction of emotional distress” and “false imprisonment,” as stated in the civil lawsuit.

Dwight Howard #12 of the Taoyuan Leopard dribble during the T1 League game between TaiwanBeer HeroBears and Taoyuan Leopards at University of Taipei Tianmu Gymnasium on February 19, 2023 in Taipei, Taiwan.
Dwight Howard #12 of the Taoyuan Leopard dribble during the T1 League game between TaiwanBeer HeroBears and Taoyuan Leopards at University of Taipei Tianmu Gymnasium on February 19, 2023 in Taipei, Taiwan. Getty Images

Howard has asked the court to dismiss the civil lawsuitšŸŒ³ filed against him in July 2023 in Georgia.

In a separate incident report obtained by ESPN, Harper went to ąµ©the Gwinnett County Police Department in July 2022 ā€” a year after the alleged incident ā€” but no charges were fišŸŽled.

“This report was made following Mr. Harper being blocked on social media and after the first demand for payment was rejected,” Bailey told the outlet.

Howard last played in the league in 2022 and continued his professional basketball career lšŸ”Æater that year with Taiwanā€™s Taoyuan Leopards.

The 18-year NBA veteran won an NBA title while on LeBron Jamesā€™ Lakers in the 2019-20 šŸŒ³COVID bubble season. 

ā€” Additional reporting by Francesca Bacardi