Four women on Thursday accused Houston quarterback Deshaun Watson of sexual misconduct in separate lawsuits – bringing the total to seven and accusing him of misconduct.
All four of these plaintiffs, who filed as Jane Doe in Harris County District Court, were massage therapists, spa workers or bodybuilders who accused the NFL star of exposing himself and touching them repeatedly with his penis.
Like the three other women who accused Watson of sexual misconduct this week, most were contacted by the NFL player on Instagram following lawsuits filed by their attorney, Anthony Buzbee.
The lawyer said he would file lawsuits against five more defendants in the coming days and that his office was investigating ten more similar allegations.
“It takes a lot of courage, a lot of courage to step forward if you have to deal with someone powerful,” Buzbee told reporters late Friday afternoon.
“Like it or not, sport is great. People follow sport blindly and irrationally and are disgusted to believe victims. It’s just the way it is.”
Watson’s lawyer, Rusty Hardin, said in a statement that he was “extremely proud” to represent the footballer and “stand completely behind him against what we believe are deserving allegations.”
He said he could not comment further until the allegations were reviewed.
“We will respond next week and ask you to keep an open mind until we do,” Hardin said. After the first lawsuit was filed, Watson said in a statement Tuesday that he was being mistakenly targeted by a ‘publicity-seeking’ lawyer. .
“I have never treated any woman with the utmost respect,” he said. “The plaintiff’s lawyer claims that it is not about money, but before he filed a case, he presented an unfounded claim of six figures, which I quickly dismissed. not about money for me; it’s about clearing my name and I’m looking forward to doing it. ‘
In an alleged incident on September 24 last year in a salon in Houston, Watson regularly “moved his body in a way that his penis would repeatedly touch the woman’s hand,” according to her civil complaint.
“The plaintiff was shocked and moved away from him,” the lawsuit alleged. “Watson was lying on the table on his back and then ejaculating. Plaintiff immediately stopped sitting and left the room. Watson got dressed and left. Plaintiff felt violated and disgusted.”
- In a June 2 session at a spa in Houston, Watson “exposed himself” several times and “moves his body so as to charge his penis,” which, according to the lawsuit, felt “absolutely terrifying.” The June 2 plaintiff appears to be the first of Watson’s defendants to say she had experience with massage therapy for soccer players and other ‘high-profile athletes’.
- During a spa meeting in October, Watson allegedly tried to touch the therapist’s hand with his penis, complaining that she was “wearing too many clothes” and according to Buzbee.
- Watson kissed another plaintiff without notice during a Nov. 2 hearing at her office, the lawsuit said. When Watson moved his penis to the woman, he “said he would pay extra to make the plaintiff work in those areas,” according to the civil complaint.
Three Buzbee massage therapists and clients filed separate lawsuits earlier this week, accusing Watson of similar allegations of sexual misconduct, including one woman who claimed she was forced to perform oral sex.
Representatives of the sheriff in Harris County have not received any charges against Watson against sexual assault, a department spokesman said Friday.
A Houston police spokesman said Friday the department could not confirm or deny any further investigation. Buzbee said his office will hand over all his findings to police.
“Sexual assault is real. Victims need to be heard, offenders prosecuted,” Watson agent David Mulugheta said in a statement. statement Friday.
“Individuals fabricate stories in the pursuit of financial gain. Their victims must be heard, and the perpetrators prosecuted as well. I just hope we preserve the same energy with the truth.”
The NFL told the Texans in Houston on Thursday that the league has begun an investigation into the allegations against Watson, officials said.
“The NFL told us today that they will investigate the allegations made in the civil lawsuit against Deshaun Watson. We will remain in close contact with the league as they are, ‘a Houston Texans spokesman said in an email.
“We continue to take this and all matters involving anyone within the Houston Texans organization seriously. We do not expect to make any additional statements until the NFL’s investigation is completed.”
NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said in an email to NBC News that the matter was being scrutinized over the league’s personal behavior policy. Regardless of a criminal conviction or investigation, the NFL could suspend Watson if they find he has violated the league’s policy on personal conduct, including sexual misconduct, according to the NFL website.
Watson has played four seasons for the Texans, but he demands he be traded. His future has been a point of relentless speculation since the end of the 2020 season, when he reached a league high of 4,823 meters.
