In a shocking turn of events, the family of former NFL player Dwayne Haskins Jr. has decided to sue his widow, Kalabrya Haskins, for refusing to share her husband’s ashes. The family is devastated by this blatant disregard for their wishes and feels that it is their right to have a say in what happens to his remains.
But that’s not all – the family also accuses Kalabrya of misusing Dwayne’s name and image on social media. They believe she is taking advantage of his fame and using it for personal gain, which is not only morally wrong but also potentially damaging to his legacy.
It is truly unfortunate to see a family torn apart by such disputes, especially in such a sensitive time. Losing a loved one is already a painful experience, and this legal battle only worsens the pain.
The plaintiffs — Haskins’ mother and father, Tamara and Dwayne Haskins Sr., and sister, Tamia Haskins, all of Clarksburg, Md., as well as the Haskins Family Foundation — are suing Kalabrya Haskins, of Atlanta, alleging harassment.
The lawsuit claims that Kalabrya Haskins has complained about the family posting about Dwayne Jr. on Instagram, leading to the social media platform disabling their accounts.
According to the complaint, since Haskins Jr. died, the plaintiffs have “experienced constant harassment from the defendant whenever they have attempted to reference his name, image and likeness in public forums such as social media.”
In one instance, according to the complaint, Dwayne Haskins Sr.’s account was disabled because he “created ‘an account that looks like it belongs to a celebrity.’”
“This decision was made despite the fact that Dwayne Haskins Sr. simply shares the same name as his famous son, but has not otherwise posted any content on Instagram,” the complaint said.
The dispute is set against a backdrop of squabbling in Allegheny County Orphans’ Court over the quarterback’s estate, which is being administered by his widow against the wishes of his parents.
According to the federal lawsuit, the Haskins family didn’t know about the March 19, 2021, marriage between Haskins Jr. and Kalabrya Haskins, and they had never met her before the wedding.
Less than three weeks after Dwayne Haskins Jr. died, his widow’s attorney penned a cease-and-desist letter to her in-laws and their foundation.
On April 29, 2022, the lawyer asked them to stop soliciting donations without the widow’s consent, which it said is “required as the surviving spouse who maintains the legal right to his right of publicity.”
The lawsuit claims that Kalabrya Haskins is basing her demands on Pennsylvania’s Right of Publicity statute, which protects any person, living or dead, whose name or likeness has commercial value and is used for such purposes.
But Haskins’ parents and sister claim that an exception in the law allows them to use the player’s name and image if they are “associated with a news report or presentation having a public interest.”
The Haskins Family Foundation’s website says it was launched by his family a year before Dwayne Haskins Jr. died.
On its website, it lists as its mission: “providing community outreach opportunities, inspiring community leadership, and offering self-improvement and financial literacy programming.”
While the foundation is recognized by the IRS, no tax returns are available online.
Another foundation, the Dwayne Haskins Jr. Foundation, is represented by Kalabrya Haskins’ attorney.
Only time will tell how this heartbreaking situation will unfold. But one thing is certain – the Haskins family is not backing down. They will fight tooth and nail to ensure that their beloved Dwayne’s memory is honored and his ashes are shared among those who loved him most.
