Advertisement

Bulls star Rose says he will be 'proven innocent' in woman's gang rape case

By Doug G. Ware
Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose claps during the first quarter of game 3 the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the NBA Playoffs against the Cleveland Cavaliers at the United Center on May 8, 2015 in Chicago. Photo by Brian Kersey/UPI
Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose claps during the first quarter of game 3 the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the NBA Playoffs against the Cleveland Cavaliers at the United Center on May 8, 2015 in Chicago. Photo by Brian Kersey/UPI | License Photo

CHICAGO, Aug. 28 (UPI) -- NBA basketball star Derrick Rose said Thursday he's confident that his innocence will be proven in the face of claims that he and multiple associates gang-raped a woman in Los Angeles two years ago.

The unidentified woman filed the lawsuit this week, which alleges that the Chicago Bulls star guard spiked her drink one night in August 2013. After she was helped to her apartment, the woman claims she passed out.

Advertisement

In the morning, the suit claims, Rose and his acquaintances entered the apartment and began to rape her as she continued to drift in and out of consciousness.

After that, the woman says, she woke up two days later and found she was covered in lubricant and the room was strewn with used condoms.

"I am not going to comment other than to say: I know the truth, and am confident I will be proven innocent," Rose told the Los Angeles Times through his publicist Thursday.

The lawsuit goes on to detail how the attack greatly impacted her personal and professional life -- to the point she was even fired from her job. She said she didn't tell family or friends or police about the rape two years ago out of embarrassment.

Advertisement

Rose, a Chicago native, previously had an on-and-off sexual relationship with the woman, his lawyer said.

"This is nothing more than a desperate attempt to shake down a highly respected and successful athlete," Rose's attorney said in a statement. "Mr. Rose was in a non-exclusive, consensual sexual relationship with the plaintiff for over two years.

"Two years have passed since Mr. Rose ended the consensual relationship with the plaintiff, and her claims are as meritless now as they were two years ago."

Rose's attorney also said he is confident the lawsuit, which he called "outrageous," will be dismissed when it reaches court.

Latest Headlines