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NFL legend Steve Smith Sr. is being sued under a "homewrecker law" by a man who attempted to publicly expose him for having an affair with his wife earlier this year.
Anthony Martinez, who publicly accused Smith of having sex with his wife, a member of the Baltimore Ravens Band, is seeking more than $100,000 in a civil lawsuit filed in Mecklenburg County Superior Court, the Charlotte Observer reports. The case is under North Carolina's "homewrecker law," which allows a spouse to file a lawsuit against an individual who impedes on and breaks up a couple's marriage, though Martinez will need to prove there was genuine affection in his marriage prior to the affair.
North Carolina is among six states in the U.S. that allows such lawsuits. In February, Martinez shared multiple screenshots of messages allegedly exchanged Smith and his wife, as well as a video of himself on the phone with someone he claimed was the retired wide receiver and addressed as "Steve," in since-deleted posts on his X account.
“What do you have to say for yourself?” Martinez asked during the call.
"I'm sorry," the voice responded after a pause.
X user @FearedBuck shared a screengrab of the explicit messages and the call made by Martinez here.
Smith, 45, has been married to his wife since his senior season at the University of Utah in 2000. A Facebook post shared by an account claiming to be Martinez's wife stated that they have one son.
Smith was one of the NFL's best wide receivers of the 2000s and arguably the best in Carolina Panthers' history, having spent his first 13 seasons with the franchise and final three with the Ravens. The Los Angeles native was a two-time first-team All-Pro in 2001 and 2005, a second-team All-Pro in 2008, a five-time Pro Bowler (2001, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2011) and led the NFL in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns in 2005.