Dwight Howard's Sexual Assault Lawsuit Dismissed
The sexual assault lawsuit involving NBA veteran Dwight Howard has reached a conclusion, with the suit officially dismissed. Stephen Harper, who brought forth the lawsuit in July 2023, has dropped all claims against the former NBA star with prejudice. This move essentially closes the case permanently, preventing Harper from bringing the same claims against Howard in the future.
Harper originally reported the incident to Gwinnett County police in 2022, alleging disturbing details about the encounter. According to Harper, he and Howard had exchanged messages via Instagram, eventually agreeing to meet for a sexual encounter at Howard's residence. Harper further claimed that another individual, identified only as "Kitty," was also present and that both Howard and "Kitty" coerced him into unwanted sexual activity.
Backing up his allegations, Harper provided screenshots of the Instagram messages exchanged with Howard, alongside an Uber receipt confirming his travel to Howard’s home. Despite these pieces of evidence, Harper never gave a formal interview to the police, and the case was subsequently suspended by law enforcement. The police made the decision not to pursue any further criminal charges against Howard.
In December 2023, Howard's legal team filed a motion to dismiss Harper's lawsuit. By February 2024, however, a judge had declined to dismiss the case. Yet, it appears that Harper's decision to drop the claims has rendered further legal procedures unnecessary.
During an Instagram Live broadcast in October 2023, Howard addressed the allegations, maintaining his innocence. "Stop worrying about it. I ain't gotta deny it; I don't gotta talk about none of that crap. This s--- didn't even happen. You worried about the wrong stuff. That's why it's called an accusation. Allegedly. Come on, man," Howard said, expressing his disdain for the accusations.
At 38 years old, Howard's illustrious basketball career has seen both peaks and valleys. Selected as the number one overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic, Howard quickly ascended to stardom, earning eight All-Star selections throughout his career. Notably, he secured an NBA title in 2020 during his second stint with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Howard's last appearance in the NBA came in 2022 with the Lakers. Since then, he has continued his professional basketball career overseas, currently playing for the Taiwan Mustangs.
This case adds another complex chapter to Howard's public life, which has seen its fair share of ups and downs, both on and off the court. While the dismissal of the lawsuit brings a sense of closure to this legal saga, it remains a stark reminder of how the off-court lives of athletes can impact and often intersect with their professional careers.
As Howard continues to play the game he loves on foreign soil, his legacy in the NBA remains that of a towering figure, both literally and figuratively, within the sport.