Note: This story contains graphic content.
A licensed massage therapist accuses Texas quarterback Deshaun Watson of sexual assault.
Prominent attorney Tony Buzbee, a former Houston mayoral candidate, filed the case late Tuesday. He first shared brief information in a post on Instagram, saying the lawsuit is “about dignity and stopping behavior that needs to be stopped”.
The massage therapist, identified as Jane Doe, said she had never met Watson or dealt with members of the Texans organization. On March 28, 2020, she received a direct message from the Pro Bowl quarterback on Instagram.
The masseuse said she was confused about why an NFL player would want a massage from her because she thinks Watson has access to a whole team of coaches. Still, she was excited to grow her business.
Watson allegedly told her he was looking for a massage for relaxation, not a typical sports massage, despite her marketing indicating that she specializes in sports massages, the lawsuit reads.
They were planning a massage for March 30 and Watson specifically asked if the masseuse would be home alone, she claims. The question made her wait, but she turned it down because she knew he might want privacy because of his fame.
She left him alone at the beginning of the massage and came back to get him on the massage table, completely naked and with only a small towel covering his groin area, the masseuse in the case claims. He then began to “aggressively dictate” how he wanted the massage to be performed, saying only to use her hands and focus on his groin area, she said.
After about 25 minutes, she began to feel extremely uncomfortable, she said.
“It turned out that Watson wanted a massage for only one reason – sex,” the lawsuit reads.
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The massage therapist said she was scared and did not want to upset the “much bigger and athletic Watson”. He repeatedly told her she was not massaging him the way he wanted to and aimed her at his penis several times, she claims in the documentation.
At one point, he exposed his penis under the towel and moved his body to deliberately touch his penis with her hand, she said.
The masseuse ended the massage, she said. Scared and crying, she said she asked him to leave.
Before he left, he allegedly told her, ‘I know you have a career and a reputation, and I know you would hate it if someone messed with yours, just like I do not want anyone with mine do not waste, ‘according to the lawsuit.
Watson sent an SMS apologizing, and weeks later she received messages from two other footballers saying that Watson had referred it to her.
She has since suffered panic attacks, depression, anxiety and sleep problems, she said.
Watson responded to the claims, in which the masseuse claims that Watson touched her improperly in March 2020 during a massage session at her home.
“As a result of a message on social media by an advertising plaintiff’s attorney, I recently took note of a lawsuit that was apparently filed against me,” Watson said in his response. ‘I have not seen the complaint yet, but I know it: I have never treated any woman with the utmost respect. Plaintiff’s attorney claims that this is not about money, but before filing a lawsuit, he had an unfounded six-year request for settlements, which I quickly dismissed. ‘
The statement further said that ‘it’s not going to be money for me; it’s about clearing my name, and I’m looking forward to doing it. ‘
Houston’s leading attorney, Rusty Hardin, is representing Watson in the case, he confirmed. Hardin, who represented other athletes such as Roger Clemens, was not available for comment Wednesday.
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Texan fullback Deshaun Watson and former Houston mayoral candidate Tony Buzbee are pictured together in this composite photo.
Houston ChronicleThe Texans issued a separate statement Wednesday morning addressing the allegations.
“Last night, through a social media message, we became aware of a civil lawsuit in which Deshaun Watson was involved,” the statement read. “This is the first time we’re hearing about the case, and we hope to hear more soon. We take allegations of this nature involving someone within the Houston Texans organization seriously. We will wait for further information before we will make any further statements regarding this incident. “
Watson was locked up in a distance from the Texans after formally requesting an appeal in January.
Watson has reiterated his feelings clearly and politely about wanting to trade in coach David Culley in a recent conversation, and he is still deliberate in his desire to never play for the AFC South franchise again, several league sources have said. previously told the Houston Chronicle. However, the team remains adamant not to want to trade with him.
The Texans on Tuesday finalized a one-year contract with former Los Angeles Chargers full-back Tyrod Taylor, who according to earlier reports would likely act as the starting quarterback in Watson’s absence.