What's happened
Buffalo Bills cornerback K.J. Hairston has been named in a civil lawsuit filed by Rebecca Hendryx, who alleges he sexually assaulted her in 2021 at the University of Kentucky. The lawsuit claims Hairston entered her dorm room uninvited and ignored her refusals. Hendryx seeks compensatory damages and a jury trial.
What's behind the headline?
Key Points:
- The lawsuit highlights ongoing issues of accountability in sports, particularly regarding allegations against athletes.
- Hairston's draft status complicates the narrative, as teams often face scrutiny over player conduct.
- The Bills' general manager, Brandon Beane, previously stated that the team conducted a thorough investigation into the allegations, calling Hairston an 'impeccable kid.'
Implications:
- This case may influence public perception of the NFL and its handling of sexual assault allegations.
- The outcome could set a precedent for how similar cases are treated in the future, particularly in collegiate sports.
- The legal proceedings will likely draw media attention, impacting both Hairston’s career and the Bills' reputation.
What the papers say
According to the New York Post, the lawsuit alleges that Hairston forcibly removed Hendryx's pajama shorts and assaulted her despite her refusals. The Independent notes that the Bills have not commented on the lawsuit but referred to Beane's earlier statements about the investigation. AP News emphasizes that the allegations date back to 2021, raising questions about the NFL's vetting process for players with past accusations.
How we got here
The lawsuit was filed on July 1, 2025, in federal court in Kentucky, stemming from an alleged incident in March 2021. Hairston was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in April 2025, despite previous allegations that were investigated by the university.
Go deeper
- What are the details of the allegations against Hairston?
- How has the NFL responded to similar cases in the past?
- What impact could this lawsuit have on Hairston's career?
Common question
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Athletes often find themselves in the spotlight, not just for their performance on the field but also for legal troubles off it. The recent lawsuit against Buffalo Bills cornerback K.J. Hairston has raised questions about how such allegations can impact an athlete's career and reputation. Below, we explore the details of the lawsuit, its implications, and similar cases in the sports world.
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Kentucky, officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a state located in the Southern United States. Kentucky is the 37th most extensive and the 26th most populous of the 50 United States.
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The University of Kentucky is a public research university in Lexington, Kentucky. Founded in 1865 by John Bryan Bowman as the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Kentucky, the university is one of the state's two land-grant universities and the instit
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The Buffalo Bills are a professional American football team based in the Buffalo–Niagara Falls metropolitan area. The Bills compete in the National Football League as a member club of the league's American Football Conference East division.
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The United States of America, commonly known as the United States or America, is a country mostly located in central North America, between Canada and Mexico.