YouTube star and boxer Jake Paul has been accused of sexual assault by TikTok sensation Justine Paradise.
Paradise detailed the alleged assault in a 20-minute video on YouTube released last Friday, claiming it happened at Paul’s Team 10 California residence. Paul on Tuesday said he “categorically denies” the allegations.
The 24-year-old TikTok star said she initially met Paul through friends in June 2019 and exchanged numbers. Despite a series of interactions with Paul, also 24, that Paradise dubbed “awkward,” the pair hung out several times at his home.
Paradise recalled that on the day of the alleged assault, while at his house, they had an encounter that started off consensual.
“One of those days, I was in the studio — some people were recording down there — and Jake pulled me into this little corner area in the studio and started kissing me,” Paradise said. “I was fine with that. I did think he was cute.”
After Paul took Paradise to his bedroom, she claims, he grew frustrated at her reluctance to engage in sexual intercourse and eventually forced her into having oral sex despite telling him “no” several times.
“Sex is very special and very important to me,” Paradise explained. “But I haven’t had sex with that many people. Normally, everybody respects me when I don’t want to do sexual things, so I thought that it was fine if I went in his room. I thought it would be fine to kiss him, because I thought he would stop if I didn’t want to do anything else.”
Paradise said Paul broke off communication after the night of the alleged assault despite her wanting to confront him about the incident.
“He didn’t ask for consent or anything,” she said. “He knew I didn’t want to do anything with him because he said, ‘If nothing is gonna happen, what’s the point?’ Then he shoves himself in me.
“That’s not okay. On no level at all is that okay.”
In a TikTok posted to her page, which has nearly 525,000 followers, Paradise elaborated on the allegations, stating she was “terrified” of going public but hoped her story could “save someone” in a similar position.
Paul denied the allegations in a statement released by his lawyer.
“Our client is aware of the recent allegation against him. While others have already begun to debunk the claim alleged against him, our client categorically denies the allegation and has every intention of aggressively disproving it and pursuing legal action against those responsible for the defamation of his character,” attorney Daniel E. Gardenswartz said.
“Our client believes that any false allegations diminish the credibility of those who have truly been victims of misconduct.”
The influencer-turned-boxer is preparing to fight retired MMA fighter Ben Askren this Saturday for Triller in Atlanta.
The YouTuber was most recently linked romantically to “World Series flasher” Julia Rose. They started dating in February 2020 but broke up earlier this year.