Gary Payton Suspended from Fox Sports 1 Amid Assault Allegations
Hall of Fame NBA point guard Gary Payton has been suspended from his job as an analyst on Fox Sports 1 due to a lawsuit involving an alleged assault.
Nick Eaton of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reported Wednesday that Trishtan Williams has sued Payton for allegedly assaulting her three times in January.
Fox Sports passed along an official statement contained in the report:
"Regardless of the circumstance, domestic violence is abhorrent and inexcusable and FOX takes these accusations very seriously. 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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Payton, 46, allegedly shoved Williams at a bar after they attended the MTR Western Sports Star of the Year award ceremony on January 21 in Los Angeles. When they were driving back to the hotel, Payton allegedly struck Williams while he was driving and allegedly continued battering her in their room.
Aaron Goodwin, Payton's agent, intimated to TMZ Sports that there's no truth to the alleged incidents described in Williams' lawsuit.
"Unfortunately, with the climate of claims against athletes for monetary gains, Mr. Payton is just another victim and will fight this frivolous lawsuit," said Goodwin.
Williams, a TV producer in the Los Angeles area, has hired Gloria Allred, a well-known attorney who has taken on high-profile cases in the past. Notable among the star athletes Allred has represented in the past is Tiger Woods during his personal-life scandal, as pointed out by CNN.com.
Payton has said in the past that he'd be interested in getting into coaching, but his future involvement in basketball, media or otherwise, will take a backseat until this legal matter is resolved.
