Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Antonio Brown has been accused of obtaining a fake COVID-19 vaccination card, according to the Tampa Bay Times.
The Times reported Thursday that, according to Steven Ruiz — a former personal chef for the wide receiver — Brown had his girlfriend, model Cydney Moreau, reach out to Ruiz over the summer to obtain a fake vaccination card that said Brown had received the Johnson & Johnson shot. According to text messages provided by Ruiz, Moreau offered $500 for a fake card.
Ruiz said he was unable to acquire a fake card for Brown, according to the report, but added that the wide receiver a few weeks later showed him ones he had for himself and Moreau that he said he had purchased.
Brown reportedly was unwilling to get the vaccine at the time because of possible side effects. He might have received a vaccination shot at a later date.
Ruiz said he went public with the accusation after Brown failed to pay $10,000 owed to him, according to the Times. Kevin Blatt, a spokesperson for Ruiz, gave the Buccaneers the names of two players with fake vaccine cards, according to the Times.
Responding to the Times story, the Buccaneers released a statement saying they had “received completed vaccination cards from all Tampa Bay Buccaneers players.”
“All vaccination cards were reviewed by Buccaneers personnel and no irregularities were observed,” the team said.
Brown’s attorney, Sean Burstyn, told ESPN’s Jenna Laine on Thursday that Brown is vaccinated, adding, “If Antonio’s doctors and the guidelines require a booster shot, then at that time, he’ll be happy to do it live on TV and everyone can come watch.”
Moreau told the Times that she did not know Ruiz and denied his accusation.