Le’Veon Bell Speaks Out About Rape Allegations After Alleged Victim Wins $25M

Former NFL running back Le’Veon Bell is reportedly denying allegations that he raped his cousin over the course of a decade, beginning when she was a child.

Despite his denial, a jury has awarded the alleged victim, Jada Bell, $25 million in damages from Le’Veon Bell, along with an additional $11.05 million from his brother, La’Vonte Bell, according to court documents.

Both men are accused of engaging in nonconsensual incestuous relations with Jada, beginning when she was just six or seven years old.

The lawsuit, filed in Ohio in March 2024, states that Jada accused Bell, who is eight years older than her, of using "slang terms" to direct her in nonconsensual, incestuous acts.

“For instance, he termed oral sex ‘fire,'" the lawsuit obtained by TMZ states.

The 33-year-old former NFL star played for teams, including the Jets, Steelers, Chiefs, Ravens, and Buccaneers, before transitioning to professional boxing.

In October 2024, a judge issued a default judgment in Jada’s favor after both Le’Veon and La’Vonte failed to respond to the case.

"Thus, liability is hereby established as to all counts of the Complaint," the documents state. The case was sent to jury trial to determine damages. But Bell's attorney told TMZ that the default judgment in the case is "bogus."

The lawsuit details disturbing claims, alleging that “both defendants engaged in ongoing incestual relations with the Plaintiff beginning when Plaintiff was just six to seven years old.” It further states that the abuse continued through at least 2017, with Bell allegedly maintaining these encounters “during his college years and beyond.”

Additionally, the filing asserts that none of these encounters were consensual and that they occurred so frequently that Jada became “habitualized to the abuse.”

Bell, who recently appeared at a Donald Trump rally ahead of last year’s election, is reportedly preparing to fight the judgment, arguing that he was never properly served and that the case has yet to be fully litigated.

More recently, a jury ruled that the former NFL star must pay $25 million in damages to his cousin. His brother, La’Vonte Bell, was also ordered to pay more than $11 million in connection with the case.

According to the lawsuit, Jada suffered “extreme and ongoing mental anguish and distress as a result of the incestual sexual relations forced upon her by the Defendants.” The complaint further states that the trauma “has had an immense negative effect on her interpersonal relationships and day-to-day life.”

The jury’s ruling included $20 million in damages against Le’Veon Bell for “assault, battery, and childhood sexual abuse,” along with additional legal fees and $5 million in punitive damages.

La’Vonte Bell was ordered to pay $11 million in compensatory damages for the same allegations, with an additional $50,000 in punitive damages and coverage of Jada’s legal fees.

Bell, who earned over $45 million in NFL contracts during his eight-year career, retired from football and has since transitioned into professional boxing.

Most recently, he had set his sights on a potential bout with heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk. He also teased a potential return to the Steelers following quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s social media speculation.

After the Steelers made a blockbuster trade to acquire star wide receiver DK Metcalf, Roethlisberger fueled speculation about a possible comeback. Bell quickly joined the conversation, taking to X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, to declare, "If Ben comes back, on everything I'm sliding too."

Bell and Roethlisberger played together in Pittsburgh from 2013 to 2017, forming one of the NFL’s most dangerous offensive duos. However, Bell’s tenure with the team ended on a sour note when he sat out the entire 2018 season in pursuit of a lucrative contract.

The mere idea of Bell and Roethlisberger reuniting in Pittsburgh has fans buzzing, sparking conversations about a hypothetical Steelers offense featuring Metcalf, George Pickens, Pat Freiermuth, and even Antonio Brown, who has found himself in controversies over the years.