FC Cincinnati's Aaron Boupendza facing blackmail threat over stolen video

FC Cincinnati forward Aaron Boupendza is fighting an alleged attempt to leak a consensually recorded sex video, sources with knowledge of the situation confirmed to The Enquirer on Thursday.

Boupendza's cell phone was stolen in Gabon in November 2023 and was used to access the video. A group says it intends to release the video unless Boupendza pays an undisclosed amount of money, the sources said, which could result in Boupendza being sentenced to prison in his home country.

FC Cincinnati hasn’t commented publicly on the situation but the club is said to be supporting Boupendza and is concerned for his general welfare.

Multiple reports, including one from the Daily Mail, indicated the tape was leaked, and that Boupendza risks being sentenced to prison. The sources who spoke to The Enquirer said Boupendza was the victim in the situation and that he didn't release the tape.

This situation appears to be as serious as it is because of how pornography is viewed in Gabonese culture, and questions about the relevant Gabonese laws have further complicated the situation.

The Daily Mail story cites Gabonese Penal Code, article 430, which essentially says the distribution or recording of pornographic material is punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine.

With prison time part of the dialogue in the situation, it's conceivable Boupendza could be facing the end of his international career representing the Gabonese national team. A years-long prison sentence could jeopardize his playing career at club level, too.

Sources indicated that FC Cincinnati's and Boupendza's separate legal teams are working to understand the intricacies of the Gabonese laws that might be relevant, and how those might be applied in a situation where Boupendza himself isn't actively leaking the tape. It's also unclear if the country in which the video was recorded could be material to any possible future legal proceedings.

Boupendza was acquired by FC Cincinnati to great fanfare locally last summer during the secondary transfer window. It was a big-money, win-now move for the club to bring in an established goal-scorer to help FC Cincinnati win its first major trophy, the Supporters' Shield, during the 2023 Major League Soccer regular-season stretch run.

Boupendza also scored a pivotal first-round MLS Cup playoffs goal to help send FCC's match against New York Red Bulls to penalty kicks, which Cincinnati won and used to sweep the best-of-three series.

During the postseason, Boupendza fell out of favor with his national team during the November international window but told local reporters during his final interview of the year that he was working to smooth over relations with the Gabon soccer federation.

FC Cincinnati players are scheduled to begin reporting back to Cincinnati this weekend ahead of the 2024 MLS season.