Delilah restaurant, NFL star McGinest facing lawsuit by man he attacked

Willie McGinest is being sued by the man he was seen attacking on security footage from Dec. 9 at Delilah in West Hollywood.

Blake Adams, an actor and entrepreneur, is suing both McGinest and Delilah, alleging a variety of charges, including assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence and premises liability. Adams is seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.

According to the lawsuit, Adams was at Delilah with friends on the night of Dec. 9, 2022, when McGinest walked past his table. Adams attempted to engage McGinest in conversation about the most recent USC football game. The lawsuit alleges that McGinest responded with hostility, using an epithet to ask why Adams was asking him a question before walking away. McGinest then reportedly returned and punched Adams in the face without provocation. The lawsuit also alleges that at least two other men joined the attack and began punching Adams in the face and body, while McGinest used a nearby bottle to strike Adams multiple times in the head and face.

Adams continues to suffer emotional distress, pain and suffering, embarrassment, and humiliation since the alleged attack, according to the lawsuit.

In response to the altercation that led to the lawsuit, McGinest issued a statement expressing remorse for his actions. “First and foremost, I want to offer my deepest apology for my lapse in judgment and behavior,” McGinest said. “To my family, community, friends and youth I mentor, please know I feel horrible for my actions and take full responsibility.”

McGinest’s football career spanned 15 years, with the majority of his time spent playing for the New England Patriots, where he won three Super Bowl championships. He attended Long Beach Polytechnic High School before playing college football at the University of Southern California. Following his retirement from the NFL in 2008, McGinest transitioned to working as an analyst for NFL Network, Fox Sports, and ESPN.

‘FUCKING DELILAH, DELILAH AND TEQUILA’

This was not the first incident at Delilah involving both a violent assault and a professional sports players.

In 2018, NBA players Tristan Thompson started a fight with rival Draymond Green at event at Delilah held by LeBron James.

The two reminisced about the incident fondly on Green’s podcast this past week.

Draymond Green sat down yesterday with the 2016 NBA champion Thompson and talked about their altercation on his podcast The Draymond Green Show. As soon as Green brought it up, Thompson leaned back laughing, thinking about the time.

As Green asked about it, Thompson said, “Listen…all that…was…in the past…You know…it’s so funny because…when we in the finals, bro…it kinda have to, because, listen…me and you are both, we’re the…glue guys, we’re the muscle for our team…” 

“Absolutely,” Green replied.

“So, you know, obviously, you know, shit happened in the past but it’s stupid…I’m like, man, we so past that, it was just…a crazy night at Delilah. Fucking Delilah, Delilah and Tequila,” laughed Thompson.