KHLOE Kardashian’s ex-boyfriend has been hit with a lawsuit after a woman claimed she was raped at his house party.
Los Angeles Clippers star James Harden, 34, is being sued over his security team’s behavior at a New Year’s Party.
The bombshell filing accuses Harden’s nephew, Justice Armani Blackburn, of drugging and raping a woman after Harden’s party on December 31, 2024, at his mansion in Harris County, Texas.
Blackburn is being sued on allegations of sexual assault, while Harden is accused of negligence “due to the conduct of his in-home security staff after the party,” according to Wigdor Law.
Texas real estate agent Marisa Watley, 40, claims Harden’s security team knew that several women were drunk and unconscious in his house and that they failed to protect her that night.
“Since New Year’s Day, when I reported the rape by Mr. Blackburn to the police, I have remained puzzled by how Mr. Harden’s security behaved that day—it is painful to imagine that this all could have been stopped in time,” Watley said in a press release.
According to the lawsuit, which was filed on Monday, Watley attended the afterparty with two of her friends early on January 1.
During Harden’s party, guests were allegedly told to leave their personal items, including cell phones, in their cars or at the gate of the mansion, according to the 18-page complaint.
Locking up phones is a tactic used by celebrities to keep high-profile events exclusive and private, with no pictures allowed.
Harden is an NBA All-Star who previously dated Khloe Kardashian for eight months in 2015 and 2016.
At Harden’s party, his nephew allegedly offered Watley and her friends a drink from a bottle.
Watley said in the complaint that her memories are “extremely hazy” after drinking a small amount from the bottle, and she became unable to speak before eventually passing out.
The lawsuit then claims Blackburn sexually assaulted Watley while she was unconscious.
Her two friends were allegedly removed from the party by Harden’s security while Watley was still inside, so they couldn’t stop the attack, the complaint says.
Watley’s friends got her phone after they were kicked out of the property and called her sister, court documents said.
Statements from the lawsuit
Marisa Watley and her legal team released the following statements along with a press release about the lawsuit against James Harden and Justice Armani Blackburn she filed on June 23:
“Since New Year’s Day, when I reported the rape by Mr. Blackburn to the police, I have remained puzzled by how Mr. Harden’s security behaved that day—it is painful to imagine that this all could have been stopped in time,” Watley said.
“I hope this complaint pushes security employees generally to act more responsibly when women are in danger.”
Watley’s attorneys said in a joint statement, “Ms. Watley has shown great strength and courage in coming forward to hold Mr. Blackburn and Mr. Harden accountable for what happened to her on New Year’s Day 2025 in Mr. Harden’s mansion.
“This rape was immediately reported to the police, and we will bring Mr. Blackburn and Mr. Harden to justice through the civil justice system.”
Source: Wigdor LLP
Her sister then allegedly reached out to Harden’s sister and Blackburn’s mom, Arnique Jelks, for help.
Watley’s sister then sent a picture of her to Harden’s security team, the lawsuit claims.
However, the employees allegedly claimed the woman inside was not her and told her friends that there were “no more women in the house.”
Watley said that since the alleged assault, she has spoken with a stutter due to the extreme trauma.
She is seeking more than $100,000 in damages and asking for the case to be brought to trial.
The complaint alleges Harden is “vicariously liable for the actions of his guards and their corporate employer.”
“Had the security guards acted sooner, had they listened to a single one of the concerns raised to them in the hours before Ms. Watley was raped, Mr. Harden’s security could have prevented this nightmare from occurring,” the lawsuit says.
Harden has not publicly commented on the lawsuit. His manager and the Clippers didn’t immediately return The U.S. Sun’s request for comment.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673.
