You never can be sure who will see your social media posts. If you’re going through a bankruptcy, photos that you put online or comments that you publish could send the wrong message about your financial status. Now, a former football star is trying to convince his creditors that, despite how his social media feed might look, he actually is not enjoying an opulent lifestyle abroad.
Antonio Brown played 12 seasons in the NFL and won a Super Bowl with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Unfortunately, the high salaries he earned during that career apparently did not translate to long-term financial security. He originally filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, but the proceeding was changed to a Chapter 7 action following his failure to provide complete, accurate information about his assets and debts.
Brown is also facing criminal charges and left the country several months ago. From his social media feed, he seems to be living a fairly luxurious life in the United Arab Emirates. These factors have led to questions about the existence of potentially hidden or difficult-to-trace assets, such as cryptocurrency holdings, that may not have been disclosed. During the August 1 creditors’ meeting which he attended virtually, Brown was asked about the discrepancy between the claims in his bankruptcy filing and what he was putting online. This included what appeared to be a photo showing a $24 million account balance that Brown captioned “bankrupt over.” The ex-wide receiver said that did not reflect his current financial state and that he was relying on others to pay his living expenses.
In any bankruptcy case, transparency and honesty are paramount. Creditors have the right to examine and challenge a debtor’s financial filings if inconsistencies or omissions are suspected. If proven, inaccuracies can result in serious legal consequences, including the denial of bankruptcy relief or charges of bankruptcy fraud. Should you file for bankruptcy, you might not be displaying pictures of yourself driving sports cars in exotic locations, but you should still be careful about what you post online. Even a photo that’s made in fun could undermine your financial hardship claims.
Jeff Field & Associates represents Georgia residents in Chapter 7 bankruptcies, as well as Chapter 13 proceedings. Please call 404-381-1278 or contact us online to schedule a consultation regarding your particular needs. Our offices are in Douglasville, Gainesville, Bogart, Lawrenceville, Marietta and Decatur.