PORTLAND, OREGON – FEBRUARY 09: Dwight Howard #39 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts before the game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center on February 09, 2022 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Eight-time NBA All-Star and former NBA champion Dwight Howard has vigorously denied that he sexually assaulted anybody.
A man named Stephen Harper filed a state civil lawsuit against Howard in July, alleging assault and battery, false imprisonment, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. However, no criminal charges have been filed against Howard.
In a response filed this week by his attorney, Howard described the 2021 encounter as consensual and requested that the case be dismissed. While stating everything was consensual meant the encounter with two men actually happened.
Once at Howard’s home, Harper claims they were joined by a man dressed as a woman who identified only as “Kitty.”
Harper says he tried to resist the two men, but Howard and Kitty forced him to participate in sexual activity.
This week, we are now finding out how this “Kitty” person looks after an alleged photo surfaced online.
Kitty has not spoken out about the incident.
In the July claim, Harper also alleges that Howard caused “intentional infliction of emotional distress” and false imprisonment. His complaint includes screenshots of messages allegedly exchanged between him and Howard over Instagram and a receipt of an Uber trip taken to Howard’s home.
Howard is an eight-time All-Star, five-time All-Defensive Team, and three-time Defensive Player of the Year award winner who last played in the NBA during the 2021-22 season for the Los Angeles Lakers. He played 18 seasons in the league and averaged 15.7 points per game with 11.8 rebounds per game.