New York Knicks point guard Derrick Rose was cleared of rape charges on Wednesday, Oct. 19, by a jury in a civil lawsuit.
The lawsuit accused Rose and two of his friends of gang raping Rose’s ex-girlfriend in August 2013 when she was incapacitated from drugs or alcohol. The woman was asking for $21.5 million when she filed the suit and her lawyers called Rose and his friends “sexual deviants” and said that they conspired to rape her after she was drunk and incapable of consenting to sex, according to the Associated Press. Defense lawyers, however, called the woman a liar who tried to sway jurors by crying to get at Rose’s fortune. Ultimately, the eight-member jury found the athlete and his friends not liable of rape.
"I am thankful that the jury understood and agreed with me," Rose said in a statement. "This experience and my sensitivity to it was deep. I am ready to put this behind me and focus on my family and career."
After the verdict was reached Rose and his attorney posed for pictures with members of the jury.
Rose was traded to the Knicks this offseason after being with the Chicago Bulls for seven seasons. He is in the final year of a five year, $21.3 million contract. He has averaged 19.7points, 3.7 rebounds and 6.2 assists in his career.
People reacted via Twitter to Rose being cleared and those reactions were mixed.