Marcellus Wiley accused of raping fellow Columbia student in 1994

Former NFL defensive end and Fox Sports commentator Marcellus Wiley is facing allegations of raping a Columbia University student 29 years ago, as stated in a lawsuit examined by The Post. The victim, a sociologist concentrating on race and culture, has filed a lawsuit in New York Supreme Court accusing Wiley of assaulting her in 1994, during his time as a sophomore and star running back.

The victim told her story, claiming Wiley forced himself on her in her freshman dorm room, ignoring her verbal objections and taking her virginity against her will, ultimately leading her to attempt suicide. The lawsuit expresses that Wiley’s actions intentionally caused the victim severe emotional distress.

According to the lawsuit, the plaintiff and Wiley were friends before the assault, and she had made it clear to him that she was a virgin and was not interested in sexual activities. However, Wiley ignored her boundaries and proceeded to assault her.

After disclosing the attack to a friend, the plaintiff reported the rape to several Columbia University administrators. However, they dismissed the assault, favoring Wiley and choosing to ignore it in order to safeguard his football career.

Despite this, Wiley was not expelled, but placed on academic probation and ordered to complete the semester from his home in Los Angeles. He was later permitted to continue his academic and sports career at the university.

The victim and the friend who encouraged her to report the assault received harassing phone calls, and the victim attempted suicide while Wiley was on mandatory leave. After returning to the campus, the victim had to face her alleged attacker in multiple classes. She also discovered other women with similar stories of assault by Wiley.

Wiley went on to play in the NFL for 10 seasons after being selected in the second round of the 1997 draft. He worked for ESPN and later joined Fox Sports, facing several allegations in the meantime. The lawsuit has been filed under the New York Adult Survivors Act which allows alleged sexual abuse victims to file a civil suit for a one-year period.

If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-330-0226. [https://nypost.com/2023/11/22/sports/marcellus-wiley-accused-of-raping-fellow-columbia-student-in-1994/?utm_source=url_sitebuttons&utm_medium=site%20buttons&utm_campaign=site%20buttons]

Reference

John Smith

ohn Smith is your NFL insider, providing in-depth coverage of football’s biggest league. With a passion for the game and a keen eye for statistics, John delivers game analysis, player profiles, and breaking news to keep readers updated on all things NFL.