Former NFL player Marcellus Wiley is facing new lawsuits filed by two women who accuse him of rape during his college days at Columbia University. These allegations come in addition to prior accusations against Wiley. The incidents are said to have occurred in 1994, when Wiley was playing for the university’s football team.
The first victim claims that she was pressured into having sex with Wiley after accepting an invitation to his dorm room. Despite her repeated refusals, Wiley allegedly overpowered her and held her down, telling her to relax and enjoy the experience. She reported the incident to a Columbia administrator, who discouraged her from filing a criminal complaint, fearing it would harm Wiley’s NFL career and label her as someone who ruined a black man’s dreams.
The second victim alleges that she was assaulted by Wiley about a month later. Both women have filed lawsuits against him.
Wiley’s attorneys have not yet responded to the accusations. When Wiley was first accused in November 2023, he dismissed the allegations as “BS.”
The first lawsuit, filed under the Adult Survivors Act, claims that Wiley attacked the plaintiff in the fall of 1994, forcing himself on her in a dorm room and disregarding her objections. She also states that he took her virginity. Wiley admits to spending the night in her dorm room but denies engaging in intercourse, citing his refusal to be someone’s first sexual experience.
Wiley suggests that the woman fabricated the story to avoid feeling ashamed of herself, as she had a boyfriend at the time. He also mentions that as a “big Black man from Compton,” he fit a stereotype that could have influenced people’s perception of the situation.
Despite these allegations, Wiley went on to have a successful career in the NFL. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the second round of the 1997 NFL Draft and played for the San Diego Chargers, Dallas Cowboys, and Jacksonville Jaguars. Over his 10 seasons in the league, he recorded 44 sacks and 322 combined tackles in 147 games.
Fox News’ Scott Thompson contributed to this report.
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