New England Patriots star Stefon Diggs has pleaded not guilty to felony strangulation and assault charges related to an argument he had with his personal chef late last year.
His arraignment in Massachusetts on Friday had previously been postponed until after Super Bowl LX, allowing Diggs to play in the NFL championship game.
David L. Ryan/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool
Stefon Diggs appears for his arraignment on Friday at District Court in Dedham, Mass. (David L. Ryan/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool)
Diggs’ attorney has said he “categorically denies these allegations,” describing them unsubstantiated and motivated by a financial dispute.
“I expect Mr. Diggs to be exonerated and I’d be shocked if this case goes to trial,” lawyer Mitchell Schuster said, per USA Today. He added that the facts of the case “paint a very different picture,” but declined to provide specific details.
The alleged incident occurred on Dec. 2 at the wide receiver’s home in Dedham, Mass. His personal chef filed a police report two weeks later, claiming Diggs “smacked her across the face” and “tried to choke her using the crook of his elbow around her neck,” leaving her feeling short of breath.
She told authorities she’d been hired to work for Diggs for the entire NFL season and that they’d been arguing about money before he allegedly turned violent.
“She said that they began to discuss this, which apparently angered the male,” police said in a report at the time.
A pretrial hearing has been scheduled for April 1.
Diggs court appearance comes days after the Patriots’ Super Bowl loss against the Seattle Seahawks.
After the game, rumors began to crop up regarding Diggs’ relationship with rapper Cardi B, with whom he recently welcomed a child. The couple unfollowed each other on Instagram over the weekend, sparking the breakup buzz.
Neither the Grammy-winning rapper nor Diggs have commented on the matter.
