Newly-Wedded NFL Player Faces Two Fresh Paternity Lawsuits
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill, renowned as the “Cheetah” for his lightning-fast speed on the gridiron, is not only making waves for his stellar performances in the NFL but also for finding himself embroiled in two paternity lawsuits brought against him by women seeking child support. These legal battles are unfolding in the Florida courts, and DailyMail.com has exclusive insights into the unfolding saga.
Amidst an exceptional season where Hill has been poised to rewrite NFL records with his extraordinary stats, the spotlight has shifted to these paternity suits, sparking questions about the intersection of his personal life with his football career and MVP aspirations.
The first lawsuit is filed by Brittany Lackner, who asserts that Hill is the father of her child born in February. Lackner claims Hill proposed a monthly child support payment of $2,500, which she deems insufficient considering his superstar athlete status and annual earnings of approximately $30 million. With a prenatal paternity test reportedly confirming Hill’s fatherhood with over a 99.9% probability, Lackner has shared images and videos of her child donning a Miami Dolphins jersey bearing Hill’s name and number on her travel-focused TikTok account, boasting over 30,000 followers.
The second lawsuit involves Kimberly Baker, who emerged in May alleging that her child, Trae Love Hill, was conceived during her involvement with Tyreek Hill in August 2022. Similar to Lackner, Baker was receiving $2,500 per month in child support from Hill, according to court filings in Broward County.
Should these legal actions find favor with the plaintiffs, Hill may face a significant hike in his existing child support obligations to support his three children with former partner Crystal Espinal, aged 28. These legal proceedings add to Hill’s intricate personal history, marred by past incidents of domestic assault.
In 2015, Hill pleaded guilty to domestic assault, resulting in expulsion from the Oklahoma State football team for choking Espinal during her pregnancy with their first son, Zev Carter. This incident cast a shadow over Hill’s reputation and stirred controversy around his career.
In 2019, Hill faced accusations of child abuse, leading to his suspension by the Kansas City Chiefs. However, he was later reinstated after proclaiming his innocence and a district attorney’s determination of insufficient evidence supporting the claims of his son’s broken arm. Subsequently, Espinal pursued Hill in court in Johnson County, Kansas, to establish paternity and child support for their twins, Nakeem and Nyla.
Despite these controversies, the Chiefs extended a lucrative three-year, $54 million contract to Hill, and he played a pivotal role in their Super Bowl LIV victory. Following a blockbuster trade, Hill joined the Miami Dolphins and inked a record-setting four-year, $120 million deal as a wide receiver, signaling that his on-field prowess often outweighed off-field issues in the eyes of NFL franchises.
Nevertheless, outside the NFL realm, Hill encountered another altercation when he was purportedly caught on CCTV slapping a Miami marina employee during an incident on June 18. While the victim opted not to press charges, this incident further fueled scrutiny surrounding Hill’s conduct beyond the football arena.
As Tyreek Hill remains a fixture in headlines for his athletic feats and personal controversies, the impact of these legal battles on his career and reputation remains uncertain. While his potential candidacy for the NFL’s Most Valuable Player award hinges on his stellar on-field performance, it could be eclipsed by off-field issues, prompting discussions about the interplay between an athlete’s personal life and professional acclaim.
Hill’s ongoing legal woes serve as a poignant reminder of the complexities entwined in the lives of high-profile athletes, where personal choices and actions undergo intense public scrutiny. As legal proceedings progress, the NFL community and fans will closely monitor developments surrounding Tyreek Hill, both as an athlete and an individual grappling with personal responsibilities and legal obligations.
