Everything to Know About Stefon Diggs’ Messy Assault Trial

This year has already been off to a rough start for NFL star Stefon Diggs, who was cut from the New England Patriots and dealt with a high-profile split with rapper Cardi B. Now, he’s facing serious assault charges related to allegations made by a former employee. Diggs’ trial began this week, and even though this is only day two, things are already getting messy. Here’s everything you should know as Stefon Diggs’ assault trial continues.

Alleged December Incident

We previously told you assault charges against Diggs stem from an alleged physical altercation with his personal chef back in December at his Massachusetts home. Police say Diggs’ live-in chef, identified as Jamila Adams, walked into the Dedham Police Department alleging the football player became angry during an altercation over her payment.

Adams claimed Diggs “smacked her across the face” and “tried to choke her using the crook of his elbow around her neck.”

Officer Kenneth J. Ellis later testified, “She said that he was behind her with his arm wrapped around her.” He added, “She said that she did feel like she had trouble breathing and that she felt like she could have blacked out.” Diggs allegedly threw her on a bed and said “lies” when she told him she had not been paid her proper salary.

The wide receiver has denied that the incident ever took place, according to the Associated Press. Police charged him with felony strangulation or suffocation and misdemeanor assault and battery. He pleaded not guilty in February.

Patriots, Attorneys React to Charges

At the time of the alleged incident, Diggs was still on the Patriots’ roster, and the organization came out in full support of their player. In a December statement, the team wrote, “We support Stefon. We will continue to gather information and will cooperate fully with the appropriate authorities and the NFL as necessary. Out of respect for all parties involved, and given that this is an ongoing legal matter, we will have no further comment at this time.”

The Patriots released Diggs shortly after they lost the 2026 Super Bowl.

Diggs’ attorney, David Meier, has maintained his client’s innocence. “The timing and motivation for making the allegations is crystal clear: they are the direct result of an employee-employer financial dispute that was not resolved to the employee’s satisfaction,” Meier said in a statement reported by NFL.com.

Private Chef Testifies

The trial began on Monday (May 4) with opening statements, jury selections and testimony from Diggs’ accuser. Jamila Adams testified that her longtime relationship with Diggs has been “complicated” and at one point became sexual, according to NBC 10 News.

When she began working for Diggs, Adams told the court she was paid $2,000 per week. Things took a turn, however, on the morning of Dec. 2, when Adams said she became upset about not being able to attend Art Basel in Miami with the football player. She reportedly shared her frustrations with Diggs over text and was even planning coordinated outfits with his then-girlfriend, rapper Cardi B.

That’s when Diggs allegedly busted into her room and began attacking her. Adams said that she tried to fight back. “I started to do a move that I saw off of social media,” Adams testified. “He said to me, ‘That shit is not going to work.’”

Objections to Adams’ Testimony

While Adams was on the witness stand, she was met with several objections. Most notably, a sustained objection came after defense lawyers showed her text messages and asked if she’d deleted any of them before going to the police, according to NBC 10. In one text, Adams wrote, “I’m ruining that b***h life.” When she started to explain, a new objection was raised, which led to another sidebar and eventual recess in court.

Judge’s Warning

Judge Jeanmarie Carroll issued a warning to Adams during the second day of the assault trial. “You’re responsible for answering questions that are put to you,” Carroll said, according to AP News. “Courtrooms function in, and especially trials unfold, in a question-and-answer format. This is not an opportunity for you to interject your own narrative and evade responding to questions the court deems appropriate. And if you continue to do so, your entire testimony may be stricken. Am I clear?”

If Adams’s testimony is removed from the record, the entire case could likely collapse. As of now, Stefon Diggs’ trial is expected to continue for the next few days.