Minnesota Vikings’ receiver Justin Jefferson is facing serious accusations involving paternity and abortion. According to court documents filed in Essex County, N.J., on Jan. 19, Jefferson has been accused by 25-year-old attorney Andrea Galea of fathering their daughter, Stella Anastasia, born on Dec. 21, 2023.
The legal complaint alleges that Jefferson failed to provide financial support for their child and refused to acknowledge her.
Galea, who claims to have had a past romantic involvement with Jefferson during their undergraduate days at LSU, states in the filing that she was pressured by Jefferson to undergo an abortion. When she chose not to, the situation allegedly took a harsh turn, with Jefferson displaying “great insensitivity and extreme cruelty.”
The court documents reveal Galea’s request for a paternity test, financial support, and healthcare coverage from Jefferson, who is currently in the final year of his rookie contract and set to make $19.7 million in 2024.
However, Jefferson has countered the claims, filing his lawsuit on Jan. 26 in Essex County. In his filing, he seeks an injunction against Galea from sharing information about the child and demands a paternity test.
Moreover, Jefferson accuses Galea of using the birth of their child and the allegations against him to promote her online presence as an “online influencer.” The filing includes text messages allegedly exchanged between the two, including discussions about Plan B and accusations of harassment.
Jefferson’s attorney, Peter Till, has refrained from commenting on pending litigation. While Galea’s attorney, Gary Newman, has indicated that he will address the matter at the appropriate time.
Justin Jefferson’s NFL Journey: Overview
Justin Jefferson began his football journey as a three-star prospect at Destrehan High School in Louisiana. Despite his initial rankings, he committed to Louisiana State University (LSU) and later entered the NFL as the 22nd overall pick in the 2020 Draft by the Minnesota Vikings.
In his rookie season, Justin set the NFL record for most receiving yards by a rookie. In his second season (2021), he continued to impress, finishing with the second-most receiving yards in the league, narrowly missing Randy Moss’s franchise record.
In the 2022 season, Jefferson’s achievements include a widely acclaimed one-handed catch. He finished the season with a league-leading 128 receptions for 1,809 yards and earned the Offensive Player of the Year award. The following year (2023), despite facing injury setbacks, Jefferson set an NFL record for most receiving yards through a player’s first four seasons.
