'Basketball Wives' Star Jennifer Williams Sues After Violent Attack
"Basketball Wives" star Jennifer Williams has filed lawsuit against co-star, Evelyn Lozada's personal assistant after she was viciously attacked in front of horrified cast members.
Williams, who is the ex-wife of former NBA star, Eric Williams, alleges that the defendant, Nia Crooks, beat her, causing physical and emotional injuries, and is seeking unspecified damages over the attack, according to the New York Daily News.
"Violence used against any person is wrong but when a woman hits another woman it sets a horrible example for young girls everywhere. I choose to use the justice system to fight back," Williams told the Daily News.
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"I was sitting at the conference room table and this girl starts arguing with me out of nowhere, [Nia's] not even on the show. She hit me with her open hand on my cheek. I've never been hit in my life!" She added.
Viewers of the VH1 reality TV series were shown footage of the attack, which Williams claims left her suffering from a whiplash-like neck injury and post traumatic stress.
"I didn't watch the video for a long time because I lived it. It's disturbing. It's humiliating. I get anxiety just thinking about it," Williams explained.
Williams and Lozada have been involved in an ongoing dispute which prompted Crooks, a Harlem resident, to get involved and ultimately side with her boss.
Williams' attorney, Sanford Rubenstein, confirmed that his client also filed a complaint against Crooks with the state attorney's office in Florida, over the Jan. 21 incident that took place in the presidential suite of the Gulfstream Park racetrack in South Florida.
"Basketball Wives" follows the drama-filled lives of women who have been involved with professional basketball players, and the show often receives criticism for its constant violence.
The show, which some critics argue is on par with VH1 reality show "Mob Wives" in terms of promoting violence, often features scenes where cast members are subject to hair pulling, punching, slapping, and even glass throwing.
In May 2010, NBA star Michael Olowokondi's ex-girlfriend, Suzie Ketcham, was arrested after throwing a drink at her nemesis, who was left badly injured.
In a separate incident, former cast member, Meeka Claxton, filed a suit against co-star, Tami Roman, alleging that she was the victim of assault and battery after a vicious beating in Europe.
Lozada, a 36-year-old mother of one, has also been criticized for her use of violence against her co-stars, after her involvement in several fights including one against Roman and another against co-star Royce Reed.
