V. Stiviano, the woman at the center of the scandal that forced longtime NBA owner Donald Sterling out of professional sports, says she blacked out and woke up injured after leaving a Los Angeles hotel last week.
According to a report from TMZ, Stiviano said the incident occurred outside a hotel in Marina del Rey, where she had been visiting friends who were sitting at the bar. Stiviano told the outlet she did not consume alcohol and said she did not even drink water while at the hotel.
After leaving the building and walking toward her vehicle, Stiviano said she suddenly lost consciousness. She later regained awareness lying face down in a street median as traffic passed nearby. TMZ reported that Stiviano suffered chipped teeth and visible abrasions consistent with falling onto asphalt.
Stiviano said she has no memory of what caused her to black out and is unsure whether she may have been struck by a vehicle or targeted by someone while outside the hotel. Her manager told TMZ there was initial concern that her watch had been stolen, raising fears of a possible assault, but the watch was later found inside her car.
Despite the injuries, Stiviano reportedly drove herself to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where doctors examined her and determined she did not have life-threatening injuries. She was later released.
TMZ reported that Stiviano returned to the hotel to ask about surveillance footage but was told that security cameras did not capture the area where the incident allegedly occurred. Los Angeles police confirmed that a report has been filed, and authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the blackout.
Stiviano rose to national prominence in 2014 after recordings she made of Sterling were made public. The audio, which included racist remarks, led the NBA to issue Sterling a lifetime ban, fine him $2.5 million and ultimately force the sale of the Los Angeles Clippers. The incident became one of the most consequential scandals in modern sports history.
In the years since, Stiviano has largely stayed out of the public eye, occasionally resurfacing in media coverage tied to the lasting impact of the Sterling controversy. This latest incident, however, has renewed attention on her, as questions remain unanswered about how she lost consciousness and what exactly happened outside the hotel.
Police said the investigation is ongoing, and no further details were immediately available.
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