Ex-NFL wide receiver Antonio Brown is offering refunds to donors who contributed to a GoFundMe campaign that raised over $80,000 for a Georgia man recently charged with child deprivation.
The fundraiser was initially launched by Brown in support of Chris Louis, who left his three children—ages 10, 6, and 1—alone at a McDonald’s indoor play area in Augusta, Georgia, on March 22. According to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, Louis claimed he was heading to a job interview, but investigators later confirmed that no such interview was scheduled.
Authorities say it was concerned customers who first noticed the children had seemingly been abandoned. The oldest, a 10-year-old girl, told police that her father had left her in charge while he dropped off a backpack. She also revealed that their father frequently left them alone for long stretches.
The children’s mother arrived at the McDonald’s around 6:12 p.m. after being contacted by her daughter. Shortly afterward, Louis returned—still carrying the black backpack—and told deputies he had been filling out a job application at a nearby hotel. However, hotel staff said no interviews were being conducted that day. Louis later claimed he had lost his ID and was retracing his steps.
Louis was arrested and charged with misdemeanor deprivation of a child.
In the wake of his arrest, Brown launched the fundraising campaign with the intention of helping the Louis family. Several prominent figures contributed, including Brown himself ($1,084), ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit ($1,000), and YouTuber Chris “Swaggy C” Williams ($2,000).
But as new details of the incident emerged, Brown disabled the GoFundMe and froze the funds, saying the money would remain “on hold” while he assesses whether it’s truly going toward a good cause.
“I want to make sure the money is used the right way,” Brown said in a statement. “If people want their donations back, I’ll make that happen.”
The former NFL star emphasized that his intent was never to enable neglect but to assist what he—and many others—initially believed to be a struggling father in need. Now, with mounting questions surrounding Louis’s actions, Brown is prioritizing transparency and accountability.
Donors can request a refund directly through GoFundMe or follow Antonio Brown’s instructions, which he says will be shared through his official social media channels.
The incident has sparked debate online about the role of public sympathy, crowdfunding ethics, and the responsibilities of parenthood.
