If you’re a celebrity you basically have to avoid fights at ALL costs, which sometimes is extremely difficult to do. Matt Barnes and DeMarcus Cousins are being sued as expected, over the nightclub brawl at Avenue in New York, that occurred after their game against the Knicks on Sunday.
The Sacramento Kings teammates were involved in a violent altercation with two people at the VIP booth next to them around 3 a.m. on Dec. 5. The alleged victims claimed they were brutalized by the NBA stars.
According to the lawsuit filed in NYC, Jasmine Besiso and Myrone Powell claim they were innocently hanging out when Barnes approached Jasmine and began to choke her. Powell says he saw the attack and tried to intervene, but that’s when Cousins stepped in and punched him in the face. At that point, Barnes allegedly released Jasmine’s neck and elbowed her in the face, knocking her unconscious. Powell claims he was taken to the ground and Barnes and Cousins proceeded to kick and punch him in the head and body. Powell sent pictures of his injuries to TMZ.
NYPD was called to the scene, but Barnes and Cousins had left by the time they arrived. The duo, however, was recorded talking about the fight while leaving the club.
Barnes is heard saying, “You saw me get in with two guys…”
Cousins says, “The ni–a was trying to choke Matt, I hit the sh-t out this ni–a!” while shaking his hand which seemed to be hurting.
A rep for Barnes told TMZ Sports, the NBA stars were the real victims who were attacked by the other clubgoers. Barnes claims he accidentally butt-bumped the woman, and she reacted by slapping him pretty hard in the face. He says the woman’s crew – including men – then jumped in, creating a violent melee. Barnes says he was knocked to the ground and a man began to choke him. As mentioned before, Cousins did admit jumping in, but it was to help Barnes who he says was being choked. Barnes also sent images of his injuries, and once again blamed the media for painting a bad picture of him.
A rep for the alleged victims calls the incident a “vicious and unprovoked attack” and says Cousins’ initial blow was a “blindside punch.” The rep also says the two were transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital where they were treated for “serious injuries.”
