Minnesota Vikings star wide receiver Justin Jefferson is reportedly facing a paternity lawsuit from an ex-girlfriend.
According to the Daily Mail, Jefferson and Andrea Galea filed counter claims against each other last month in a New Jersey family court. Per the report, Galea is vying to get Jefferson to take a paternity test to prove he is the father of her daughter, Stella, who was born in December.
In addition, Galea is pushing for Jefferson to offer financial support and healthcare support for the child. Galea also alleges that Jefferson pressured her to have an abortion.
Jefferson has reportedly pushed for a paternity test as well, but is also suing to block Galea from sharing further information about the child publicly. His legal team has argued that Galea is using Jefferson for clout to advance herself as an online influencer.
“Defendant has a substantial presence and following on various social media platforms and apparently has strategically positioned herself over the last several years to become an ‘online influencer,'” Jefferson’s complaint states. “In numerous transmittals to Plaintiff, Plaintiff’s family, Plaintiff’s friends, and other individuals, including but not limited to text messages, social media posts, blogs, and various internet messaging platforms, Defendant in the most unfortunate and temperate terms has and continues to announce to all the world that she is the natural mother of the child, and that the Plaintiff is conclusively the father of the child.”
But Galea’s complaint alleges that Jefferson knows the child is his, refuses to spend time with the child and refuses to offer financial support for the child.
It’s a complicated situation and one that we’ll just have to see how the courts handle.