Gary Payton Fox Sports 1, NBA Hall of Famer Gary Payton is taking a break as a studio analyst for Fox Sports 1, but not by choice. The network suspended the 46-year-old while it conducts an internal investigation into claims that he assaulted a woman in January, Awful Announcing reports.
The woman, Trishtan Williams, is alleging that Payton assaulted her three times after an awards show the pair attended in January. Williams consulted with famed lawyer Gloria Allred who helped her file a lawsuit against Payton, a copy of which TMZ Sports says it obtained earlier this week. In it, Williams alleges that after the ceremony, she and Payton went to a bar, where he shoved her over something she said. TMZ Sports continues:
“Eventually, Williams claims they got in a car to leave together and he assaulted her again. Williams says Payton struck her a third time when they got back to their hotel room.”
Payton’s agent Aaron Goodwin told TMZ Sports that he suspects the lawsuit is a ploy for Williams to get money from Payton and that there is “no physical evidence to substantiate these claims.”
Fox Sports 1, meanwhile, is erring on the side of caution.
“Regardless of the circumstance, domestic violence is abhorrent and inexcusable and Fox takes these accusations very seriously,” a spokesperson for the network said in a statement to AwfulAnnouncing. “As soon as we were made aware of the claim, we began an internal investigation. Mr. Payton was suspended immediately pending the completion of the investigation. Out of respect for both parties we will not be making any additional statements.”
“Eventually, Williams claims they got in a car to leave together and he assaulted her again. Williams says Payton struck her a third time when they got back to their hotel room.”
Payton’s agent Aaron Goodwin told TMZ Sports that he suspects the lawsuit is a ploy for Williams to get money from Payton and that there is “no physical evidence to substantiate these claims.”
Fox Sports 1, meanwhile, is erring on the side of caution.
“Regardless of the circumstance, domestic violence is abhorrent and inexcusable and Fox takes these accusations very seriously,” a spokesperson for the network said in a statement to AwfulAnnouncing. “As soon as we were made aware of the claim, we began an internal investigation. Mr. Payton was suspended immediately pending the completion of the investigation. Out of respect for both parties we will not be making any additional statements.”
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