New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs has been charged with felony strangulation and misdemeanor assault and battery following a dispute with his former private chef, police said. The charges were revealed after a court hearing on Tuesday in Dedham, Massachusetts.
According to a police narrative, the chef reported that on 2 December, while working for Diggs, he became angry during a discussion about money, smacked her across the face, and attempted to choke her with his elbow. She said she had trouble breathing and felt she could have blacked out. Diggs then threw her on a bed and called her claims lies when she said she had not been paid.
Diggs's lawyer, David Meier, said in a statement that Diggs “categorically denies these allegations,” describing them as unsubstantiated and the result of a financial dispute. A court arraignment is scheduled for 23 January. The Patriots said in a statement, “We support Stefon.”
The chef sought payment for a week in November when Diggs had houseguests. She left her position but returned on 9 December to retrieve property, at which point Diggs referred her to his assistant, who required a non-disclosure agreement for payment. She did not sign it. Initially reluctant to file charges, she changed her mind last week.
Diggs, 32, signed a three-year, $69m deal with the Patriots in free agency after stints with Minnesota, Buffalo, and Houston. He has been a key target for quarterback Drake Maye as the team heads toward the playoffs. Off the field, his tenure began with controversy in May when a video showed him passing what appeared to be a bag of pink crystals to women on a boat; the NFL declined to comment.
