When it comes to trouble in the NFL, Antonio Brown stands out. The former wide receiver, known for playing with teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, has consistently drawn negative attention since becoming famous in the early 2010s. His notoriety often comes from scandalous behavior.
Brown’s history is so extensive that we can only highlight a few incidents: including reckless driving, bad behavior at a Holiday Inn, online disputes, and various controversies with other players. His actions range from sexual misconduct to disputes over stolen jewelry, showcasing a pattern of questionable decisions. Below, we explore 14 of his most concerning actions.
Antonio wrecked his luxury apartment in Miami
In 2018, Brown made headlines when he was seen tossing furniture off the balcony of his 14th-floor apartment in Florida. Renting at $35,000 a month, he almost hit a toddler with one of the items, which led to lawsuits from the child’s parents and the building management.
An attorney for the apartment complex described the damage as resembling a wild party scene, listing serious destruction throughout the unit, from broken furniture to scratches on the high-end flooring.
Brown ultimately settled with the child’s parents but countered lawsuits from the apartment owners by alleging security failures allowed a burglary to occur. The judge rejected his defense and ruled that he was responsible for all damages incurred.
Antonio faced allegations of sexual assault from his former trainer
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In 2019, Brown was accused by Britney Taylor, his former personal trainer, of sexual assault across three instances, with the first happening in 2017 when he allegedly exposed himself and kissed her without consent.
The allegations escalated, including an incident where Brown allegedly masturbated in front of Taylor without her consent, and a serious accusation of rape that took place in May 2018. While he denied all claims, he countered by suggesting Taylor was retaliating against him after he declined to invest in her business.
In 2021, the matter was resolved with both parties agreeing to a settlement, as confirmed by Brown’s representative, who noted they are moving forward positively.
Antonio was accused of sexual misconduct by a second woman
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Following accusations from his former trainer Britney Taylor, another woman accused Antonio Brown of sexual misconduct. This time, it was claimed that he repeatedly exposed himself while she was painting a mural at his house in Pittsburgh.
Their relationship began when Brown purchased a portrait from her at a charity auction in 2017. The artist recounted that during her first day working on a project for him, he flirted while barely clothed. On the next day, he further acted inappropriately by exposing himself.
She recalled keeping calm despite the ordeal, stating, “After that, it all ended abruptly.” Additionally, Brown was accused of not paying for the portrait and not promoting the artist’s work on social media as agreed. His attorney stated that Brown denies these allegations.
Antonio threatened to punch manager Mike Mayock
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In 2019, Antonio Brown reportedly had a confrontation with Mike Mayock, the Oakland Raiders’ manager, which nearly escalated to violence. The incident stemmed from Brown’s repeated absences from practice.
After being fined $54,000 for missing practices, Brown responded by posting his fine notice on Instagram. The following day, he confronted Mayock, using profanity and even threatening him, requiring teammates like linebacker Vontaze Burfict to intervene.
He ended the altercation by kicking a football and challenging Mayock to fine him again. However, he later issued an apology and avoided what many anticipated would be a suspension.
Antonio was sued for assaulting a truck driver
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Antonio Brown’s tumultuous journey continued into 2020 with an incident involving a moving truck driver. Reports suggested that he threw a rock at Anton Tumanov due to a dispute over payment.
After forcing his way into the vehicle, Brown allegedly assaulted Tumanov before being restrained by friends. Following this, both Brown and his personal trainer were arrested, facing multiple charges.
In court, Brown faced misdemeanor and felony charges, ultimately receiving two years of probation, community service, and mandated anger management therapy. A year later, he also lost a civil case, leading to a judgment of $1.2 million in damages to Tumanov for medical expenses and emotional distress.
The NFL suspended Antonio for eight weeks over personal conduct violation
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In 2020, Antonio Brown faced significant off-field controversies, leading to a violation of the NFL’s personal conduct policy. Consequently, he received an eight-game suspension without pay.
While a free agent, Brown was under NFL investigation for several serious allegations, which included accusations of burglary and assault against a truck driver, as well as sending threats to an artist who claimed he had sexually assaulted her. Although he could still sign with a team, he wasn’t allowed to play until his suspension ended.
Surprisingly, Brown chose not to contest the ruling and seemed to accept it. He expressed gratitude on Instagram saying, “I appreciate the NFL giving me the opportunity to continue to work on myself and improve,” and vowed to show his appreciation by having an outstanding season. However, his behavior shortly after that raised further concerns.
Antonio Faked His Vaccination Status
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In 2021, Antonio Brown and teammate Mike Edwards of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were penalized for misrepresenting their vaccination statuses. They, along with free agent John Franklin III, reportedly utilized counterfeit vaccination cards, violating NFL COVID-19 guidelines.
Reports suggest Brown played a key role in obtaining these fake cards, with his girlfriend allegedly asking his former chef, Steven Ruiz, to procure them for a fee of $500. Notably, Brown had previously missed a game for testing positive for COVID-19.
Brown’s lawyer, Sean Burstyn, claimed that despite the allegations, Brown had received at least one legitimate vaccination at a drive-thru site, maintaining that he supports vaccination for those who should get it. However, Burstyn did not confirm the timing of Brown’s vaccination.
Antonio Allegedly Exposed Himself at a Hotel Pool
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In 2022, Brown was filmed in a Dubai hotel swimming pool, where he was seen exposing himself to another guest, displaying lewd behavior that included thrusting his bare bottom and directing his genitals towards her.
Witnesses told the New York Post that Brown repeatedly asked the woman if she “wanted it,” leaving her visibly upset and vocally expressing her discomfort to others at the hotel.
In response to the incident, Brown defended himself online, claiming it was a conspiracy against him. He noted, “In the video, you can clearly see she runs off with my swim trunks. If the situation were reversed, it would have been labeled differently.” He further accused the NFL of exploiting players of color.
Antonio Was Arrested for Domestic Abuse
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In December 2022, Brown faced further legal troubles as he was charged with domestic violence, according to law enforcement reports.
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The seven-time Pro Bowler made threats to shoot Chelsea Kyriss, the mother of four of his children, after an incident where he threw a shoe at her, locked her out of his Tampa residence, and dumped her belongings on the street.
According to reports, Brown placed an unofficial eviction notice on the door, stating 11/28/2022 as the deadline for Kyriss to vacate the property, despite her having listed the same address as her residence for over a month.
When police arrived at the scene, Brown refused to cooperate and barricaded himself inside the home, which Kyriss claimed contained several firearms. Officers reportedly told him, “We’re not going anywhere,” while an arrest warrant was issued against him. Eventually, the State Attorney’s Office in Hillsborough County opted not to pursue battery charges.
Arrested for Child Support Issues
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In another incident, Antonio Brown was arrested in 2022 concerning his treatment of Wiltrice Jackson, the mother of one of his children, due to his failure to pay over $30,000 in child support.
After his arrest by the Broward County Sheriff’s Department, he was released on a bond of $15,000. Jackson expressed her frustration, stating that Brown’s actions were making a mockery of the legal system.
Jackson’s attorney revealed that she hopes for more than just financial support; she wishes for Brown to take a more active role in their daughter Antanyiah’s life, a talented young athlete who has received interest from numerous colleges. Despite this, Brown responded by going on a shopping spree and dismissing Jackson as “a money hungry b****.”
Conflict with Tom Brady
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Antonio Brown’s relationship with Tom Brady has soured significantly since Brady offered Brown a place to stay after joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020. There seems to be a continuous cycle of public disputes between them.
Brown has often instigated these conflicts by criticizing Brady for various actions including his absence from training camps and stirring drama involving Brady’s ex-wife, Gisele Bündchen. Additionally, he has placed blame on Brady for certain injuries.
The root of their feud appears to lie in contract negotiations back in 2021, where Brown felt slighted by how Brady managed the dealings with his agent. Although Brown claimed their feud ended in May 2024, he continued to question Brady’s broadcasting abilities shortly after.
Inappropriate Online Behavior
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In 2023, Antonio Brown faced backlash after he posted a sexually explicit photo of his ex-fiancée on social media, leading to his temporary suspension from Snapchat.
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Antonio Brown Faces Legal and Social Media Backlash
Chelsie Kyriss Reacts to Non-consensual Image Sharing
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Chelsie Kyriss expressed her outrage after discovering that Antonio Brown shared an explicit image of her without permission. She informed TMZ, stating, “I have reported his page and pictures.” She lamented that Snapchat allowed him to continue sharing the photo and apologized to parents who see Brown as a role model, stressing her concern due to her own children.
Despite the backlash, Brown seemed unaffected. While under investigation by Snapchat, he posted cryptic messages on X, formerly Twitter, including phrases like “somewhere between psy.chot.ic and i.con.ic” and “Don’t play wit [sic] me, Play Football,” indicating his dismissive attitude towards the situation.
Legal Battles Over Unreturned Jewelry
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In early 2024, Antonio Brown faced further legal troubles when a court mandated him to pay almost $1.1 million to a jeweler due to his failure to return two diamond rings valued at $500,000 each. The jewelry company, Shuki International, opted not to contest the lawsuit, which followed a year of attempts to retrieve their items.
Brown frequently flaunted the borrowed pieces, but ultimately failed to return them or offer compensation. Consequently, Shuki International took legal action, expressing disappointment over the escalation since they once had a friendly relationship with Brown.
Offensive Online Antics Targeting Taylor Swift
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At the beginning of 2024, Travis Kelce praised Antonio Brown on social media, but that camaraderie soured as Brown began to publicly mock Kelce’s celebrity girlfriend, Taylor Swift, throughout the year. His trolling included sharing AI-generated images of himself with Swift in a Pittsburgh Steelers jersey and making unflattering mockups of their future together.
The situation escalated when Brown made a derogatory comment on social media suggesting that Kelce should date a Black woman, which drew significant criticism from Swift’s fans. While many condemned his comment and his trolling behavior, Brown remained unapologetic and did not delete the post.
If you or someone you know needs assistance regarding sexual abuse or domestic violence, please refer to the resources below:
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