Tyreek Hill smiled and raised a thumbs-up from the courtroom on Wednesday as his civil case against his estranged wife, Lakeeta Vaccaro Hill, entered its second day.
Court livestreams captured the NFL wide receiver making the gesture when the judge returned after a brief recess. Hill stood as the judge entered, then sat down as proceedings resumed.
The hearing is part of a contentious legal dispute that began with disturbing nanny-camera footage shown to the judge during the trial’s opening day on Tuesday.
Vaccaro, the sister of former NFL player Kenny Vaccaro, is seeking compensatory and punitive damages, alleging that Hill abused her during their 17-month marriage. Hill strongly denies the accusations. The Daily Mail has contacted his attorney for comment.
On the first day of testimony, the court viewed video recorded by a nanny camera. The Miami judge barred reporters from broadcasting the footage.
Cathy Russon, managing editor of Law&Crime/Court TV, later provided an online account of the footage, which reportedly showed an incident involving Hill, Vaccaro and her mother in 2024.
Tyreek Hill smiled and gave a thumbs-up during the second day of his Miami court hearing
Lakeeta Vaccaro Hill testified Tuesday in the civil case against Tyreek Hill
Hill and Vaccaro, the sister of former NFL player Kenny Vaccaro, were married for 17 months
According to Russon’s description, the nanny-cam video showed a fixed view of the couple’s daughter, Capri, who was born in November 2024.
Vaccaro could reportedly be heard shouting, “Stop! Stop! Help! Help!” while Hill allegedly yelled, “You don’t scare me, bro! You ain’t nothing but a broke b***h!”
Hill allegedly continued, “I don’t need you in my life! What’s wrong with you!?” before Vaccaro again pleaded with him to stop.
When the baby began crying after the disturbance, Hill reportedly went toward the crib and tried to pick her up. Vaccaro urged him to stop, while her mother allegedly told him to “leave her alone.”
Vaccaro also told the court that Hill attempted to punch her in the stomach while she was pregnant with his child in July 2024.
She testified that Hill physically abused her “every other week” and described several separate incidents in which she alleged he assaulted her.
One account involved a July 2024 trip to ESPN headquarters. Vaccaro said Hill became angry after she declined to have professional hair and makeup done for possible interviews.
Vaccaro said Hill was still upset later at their hotel and tried to punch her stomach. She testified that she shielded her belly with her hands before Hill allegedly told her he did not want the baby.
Vaccaro described the incident as “probably the worst of all these abuse times.” She also alleged that Hill pulled her hair during the confrontation and tore some of it out.
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She further recounted other alleged acts of physical abuse, including an incident in which Hill reportedly wrestled her for her ring and jewelry. Vaccaro said he ripped a necklace from her body, leaving a cut between her neck and shoulder; an image of the injury was entered into evidence.
Keeta Vaccaro testified that Hill tried to punch her stomach while she was pregnant
Hill has denied the allegations against him and has been in court during the ongoing civil trial
Vaccaro also detailed other times where Hill attempted to remove her wedding ring, including after a time where he openly admitted to an attempt at infidelity.
In court, Vaccaro said Hill repeatedly told her he was going to a club to be with other women and even flirted with them in front of her. Vaccaro testified she returned to their hotel room by herself after Hill told her he’d be getting his own room.
When Hill returned the following morning, Vaccaro was packing her belongings. She then refused to go to a 7-on-7 football tournament after feeling ‘disrespected and embarrassed.’
According to Vaccaro, Hill allegedly responded by angrily throwing everything out of her suitcase, breaking her computer in half and trying to take off her ring before twisting her breast.
Vaccaro testified that Hill twisted her breasts during multiple arguments. She also detailed instances where Hill allegedly physically picked her up to throw her out of their home.
On cross-examination, Hill’s attorneys tried to establish discrepancies between her Tuesday testimony and previous depositions. She was also accused of being motivated by money when she first began a relationship with Hill.
Hill’s attorneys claimed last month that the allegations ‘are nothing more than an attempt by Ms. Vacarro, her mother and/or her counsel to shake Mr. Hill down.
‘These new allegations are further proof that Ms. Vacarro and/or her counsel are set on partaking in a smear campaign in hopes that Mr. Hill will settle and give she and her counsel an unreasonable and unwarranted amount of money,’ Julius B. Collins said. ‘Mr. Hill will not be moved by this and awaits his day in Court to present his evidence.’
Hill posed with his partner Vaccaro as he signed his last contract with the Miami Dolphins
Hill is trying to make a comeback to the NFL a year after he suffered a shocking knee injury
Hill’s representatives will continue cross-examinations on Wednesday morning when court is back in session.
This is not the first time that Hill has been investigated or accused of domestic issues. In college at Oklahoma State University, Hill pled guilty to domestic assault and battery by strangulation after being accused of assaulting his then-20-year-old girlfriend. He received three years’ probation.
Hill was also investigated for a March 2019 incident when his three-year-old son sustained a broken arm and was accused of a domestic disturbance with Vaccaro in 2024. In both those cases, no charges were filed.
The wide receiver has recently recovered from a severe knee injury he suffered last season and is attempting to find a new NFL team. He is hoping to return in November after rehab, but could face punishment under the NFL’s personal conduct policy over Vaccaro’s allegations.