A wild incident unfolded outside Adin Ross’ Brand Risk kickboxing event in Miami on Friday night, May 16, 2025, involving former NFL star Antonio Brown and Zül-Qarnaįn Nantambu, who now claims he was the victim despite initial reports accusing him of trying to rob Brown. Nantambu, a New Orleans native known for his activism—most notably displaying a Palestinian flag during Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime show in February, earning him an NFL lifetime ban—spoke to TMZ Sports, alleging Brown and others jumped him and that Brown later fired shots at him. Videos circulating online show a chaotic brawl, with Brown allegedly kicking a security guard and brandishing a firearm, though he was detained and released after claiming he was the target of a robbery attempt.
Nantambu, a hip-hop artist, filmmaker, and fashion designer who runs the YouTube channel Open Book Platform, insists no robbery attempt occurred. He told TMZ Sports that he and Brown struggled over a gun after the initial altercation, with police intervening before the situation escalated further. Nantambu also noted an ongoing lawsuit against Brown, saying he’d never risk it by trying to steal Brown’s chain, as Brown claimed in a statement on X: “I was jumped by multiple individuals who tried to steal my jewelry and cause physical harm to me.” The conflicting narratives have fueled debate, with some questioning Brown’s account given his history of erratic behavior, including walking off the field mid-game in 2022 and multiple legal issues.
Brown, a former wide receiver who won a Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2021, has not addressed the firearm he was seen with in the videos, which show him firing shots into the air after the scuffle. Miami-Dade Police confirmed no arrests were made, supporting Brown’s claim that he was released after giving his side of the story. However, Nantambu’s allegations of being shot at raise serious questions, and the lack of clarity from authorities—neither Miami-Dade Police nor Brown’s representatives have provided further details—leaves the incident shrouded in uncertainty. Posts on X reflect divided sentiment, with some fans backing Brown’s self-defense claim, while others highlight Nantambu’s insistence that Brown was the aggressor.
This isn’t the first time Brown and Nantambu have crossed paths, though the nature of their prior history remains unclear beyond Nantambu’s mention of a lawsuit. The incident adds another chapter to Brown’s controversial post-NFL career, which has included bankruptcy filings and public feuds, while Nantambu’s activist background—praised by some for his Super Bowl protest but criticized by others as a security failure—adds another layer of complexity. As the story unfolds, both men’s accounts will face scrutiny, but for now, the viral videos and dueling claims paint a messy picture of a night that spiraled out of control in Miami.
