Quick take
Stefon Diggs — the Patriots wideout who’s been hauling in passes all season — is now at the center of a serious legal mess. A police report alleges he assaulted and choked a woman who worked for him as a private chef. Diggs denies the claims and his case is headed to court.
What the report alleges
According to the report, the incident took place on Dec. 2 after a back-and-forth over money. The woman says Diggs entered her unlocked bedroom, slapped her, and then used the crook of his elbow on her neck until she had trouble breathing and feared losing consciousness. She says he later threw her onto a bed and walked away after she mentioned she still hadn’t been paid.
The money dispute and follow-up
The chef says she was hired in July to cook for Diggs through the NFL season and believes she is owed at least a month’s pay. She reportedly went to stay with a friend after the alleged encounter, returned to his home a week later to gather her things, and then contacted police mid-December to report the incident. The report notes she was at first hesitant to press charges after receiving messages from a woman she thinks is Diggs’ partner, but later asked police to proceed.
Charges and timeline
Dedham District Court records show Diggs, 32, has been charged with felony strangulation and assault and battery. The arraignment is scheduled for Jan. 23 — just a couple days before the AFC championship game — so this will be playing out both in court and in sports headlines very soon.
Diggs’ side
Diggs’ attorney says he denies the allegations and calls this a dispute rooted in an unresolved employee-employer money issue. The statement says Diggs intends to clear things up in court.
Team and league response
The Patriots say they’re aware of the accusations, that Diggs has denied them, and that the organization will cooperate with authorities and the NFL as needed. The league confirmed it knows about the situation but declined to add details.
On the field
As a reminder of why this is getting so much attention: Diggs has been a major part of New England’s offense all season. He’s played every game, hauled in 82 catches for 970 yards, and is a primary target for quarterback Drake Maye. Before New England, he was a proven 1,000-yard receiver with Minnesota and Buffalo for multiple seasons.
Personal and next steps
Off the field, Diggs recently welcomed a baby boy with his girlfriend, who is a public figure in the music world. Police reports mention messages the chef received that she believes came from that girlfriend, urging her not to make a big deal out of the incident. Representatives for the girlfriend did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
At the moment, everyone’s waiting for the legal process to move forward. Expect more statements, court dates, and — sadly — more headlines. For now, the plays on the field are being overshadowed by what happens off it.
Stay tuned: this one isn’t going away anytime soon, and the courtroom might be the next big stage.
