George Foreman, 73, is being hit with two lawsuits launched by women who allege that Foreman sexually assaulted them during the 1970s when both were underage.
1970s assault: According to legal documents, both women claim their fathers worked with the former World Heavyweight Champion, alleging he began to groom them when they were still children before ultimately engaging in sexual activity with them; one of them claims she was just 13 at the time of the first assault.
One of the women said that the legendary boxer threatened to fire her father, a longtime adviser if she ever told anyone about the alleged assaults. Each woman is seeking over $25 million in damages, claiming "physical and mental pain and suffering" by being allegedly raped by Foreman as a minor.
George Foreman denied the accusations
Foreman has denied the allegations, accusing the women of extortion.
He said, "Over the last six months, two women have been trying to extort millions of dollars each from me and my family."
His statement continued, "They are falsely claiming that I sexually abused them over 45 years ago in the 1970s," adding, "I adamantly and categorically deny these allegations."
He added, "The pride I take in my reputation means as much to me as my sports accomplishments, and I'll not be intimidated by baseless threats and lies. I'm, and always will be, guided by my faith and trust in God. I'll work with my lawyers to fully and truthfully expose my accusers' scheme and defend myself in court. I do not pick fights, but I do not run away from them either."
The lawsuit was filed under an amendment passed in 2020 to California's law of limitations for certain sex crimes, giving victims of childhood sexual assault more period to sue. The amended law permits plaintiffs to sue within five years of discovering an injury caused by the assault.
Bill Cosby lawsuit
Judy Huth notably sued Bill Cosby, alleging she was raped at the Playboy Mansion in 1974 when she was 15 years old under the law. In June, a LA jury found that the comedian assaulted her.
Pseudonym lawsuit
The women suing Foreman claimed they suffered "physical and mental pain and suffering" found at an unspecified date. They brought their lawsuits under pseudonyms.
The legendary boxer is also listed as a Doe defendant. Still, it is identified as a former professional heavyweight boxer who went professional in 1969 and defeated Joe Frazier for the heavyweight championship in 1973.
Los Angeles County resident Denise S. said she met Foreman when she was eight years old and was groomed by the boxer over several years.
The complaint states, "When Plaintiff was 13 years old, Doe called Plaintiff at her home in Hayward, California and asked Plaintiff if she knew how to masturbate," adding, "During the call, Doe gave plaintiff instructions on how to masturbate herself."
According to the suit, Foreman raped her several times in 1976. He allegedly assaulted her while staying at a San Francisco hotel on one occasion.
In a separate complaint, Nevada resident Gwen H. said Foreman invited her to his apartment when she was 15 years old after meeting him in Philadelphia. She claimed he threatened to fire her father, a longtime advisor to the boxer.
The complaint states, "DOE threatened that if she didn't comply, her dad would lose his job," adding, "DOE then instructed Plaintiff to remove her clothes. Feeling the duress and coercion of this threat, Plaintiff complied with DOE's commands."
Both women said they told an unnamed friend and business associate of Foreman about being assaulted by the boxer. The lawsuit said they were told he was aware of at least one other victim who Foreman sexually abused when she was a minor. When confronted, Foreman allegedly didn't deny the allegation.
The complaints allege sexual battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Foreman is represented by Shawn Holley and Suann MacIsaac of Kinsella Weitzman Iser Kump Holley.