The former chef for Antonio Brown — who has accused the Buccaneers wide receiver of obtaining a fake vaccine card — now says Brown acquired it from an unnamed teammate.
On Thursday, Steven Ruiz, a former live-in chef for Brown, claimed he was owed $10,000 in unpaid wages and said Brown had received a fake vaccine card.
Ruiz provided a screengrab to the Tampa Bay Times of text messages with Brown’s girlfriend, model Cydney Moreau, in which she offered to pay him $500 for a Johnson & Johnson vaccine card on Brown’s behalf. Ruiz said he did not carry out the task, but told the outlet Brown succeeded in obtaining a fraudulent card elsewhere. An attorney for Brown denied the allegations.
Friday, Ruiz threw more gasoline on the fire, telling ESPN that Brown obtained the fake vaccine card from an unnamed Buccaneers teammate.
“He got them from another player who was selling them,” Ruiz told ESPN. “That player came over to the house multiple times. He had to get another copy of Cyd’s vaccine card because they got her birthday wrong on the first one.
“I’m gonna sit on it for a little while, The truth will eventually come out. If this does become a bigger and deeper investigation to follow the NFL — just to get into legal terms — this will all come to light.”
Despite the alleged text message exchange, Moreau denied knowing Ruiz. An attorney for Brown, Sean Burstyn, told the Tampa Bay Times his client is indeed fully vaccinated.
“Antonio Brown appreciates the severity of the pandemic, which is why he got the vaccine and supports everyone for whom it is advisable to get the vaccine,” Burstyn texted the Tampa Bay Times. “Coronavirus has hit close to home as it took him out of a game. He is healthy, vaccinated, and ready to win another Super Bowl. One of the worst parts of the pandemic has been a movement to cast doubt on our country’s vaccination programs with baseless, vindictive tabloid gossip.”
Burstyn further reiterated to ESPN that Brown is vaccinated.
“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,” Burstyn said.
Brown missed a game in September after testing positive for COVID-19; he has been out since October 14th due to a foot injury.
NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy told ESPN that no other Buccaneers’ vaccine cards had been called into question.
Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians told reporters Friday that he had no reason to suspect Brown is unvaccinated.
“None whatsoever,” Arians said. “We did our due diligence. The league will do theirs. The statement says everything. I really don’t think it’s a story and it has nothing to do with the Giants game.”