Five more women came forward to accuse Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson of sexual misconduct during massage sessions last year, according to lawsuits opened on Monday.
All the plaintiffs said Watson exposed himself and specifically suggested or requested sexual services during the sessions, according to the women, all represented by Houston’s attorney, Anthony Buzbee.
In these latest civil complaints, filed with the Harris County District Court, four women said they were Watson’s victims on January 21 and March 5 of this year and around July and August 2 of last year.
A fifth woman said Watson behaved inappropriately with her during a session in June last year and again on August 17, said her lawsuit.
“Watson is in the sex trade. He needs to be stopped, ”according to the alleged August 2 incident lawsuit.
In the alleged July 2020 incident, the woman said Watson contacted her about massage work, although her specialty was “teeth whitening and sauna detoxification,” according to the lawsuit.
Still, she agreed to give Watson a massage, who ejaculated on her during the session, the civil complaint said.
The woman “felt violated, disgusted and ashamed” and “immediately called her friend after the massage to tell her what happened because she was in shock,” wrote Buzbee.
The plaintiff, who reportedly saw Watson twice, said that the first session was arranged by her manager, and at that initial meeting, the quarterback “palpated her buttocks and vagina and then pushed her buttocks over her face,” the suit said. .
She ended up seeing Watson again, on August 17, when the defendant scheduled a massage for himself directly through her and she only recognized him as “the same man who had harassed her earlier that year” when he arrived at her spa, the process said.
During that second meeting, Watson reportedly “asked him to have oral sex and pretend he was a woman”, according to the plaintiff, who is a lesbian.
Twelve women in total have now accused Watson of scheduling massage sessions in which he allegedly exposed himself and sought sexual services.
All five lawsuits include the statement that “Watson’s behavior is part of a disturbing pattern”.
The quarterback, who led the NFL in passing yards last season, denied any wrongdoing.
Watson’s lawyer, Rusty Hardin, said in a statement last week that he was “extremely proud” to represent the footballer and “to fully support him against what we believe to be meritless charges”.
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,” said Hardin.
After the first lawsuit was opened, Watson said in a statement on Tuesday that he was being unfairly targeted by a lawyer “in search of publicity”.
“I have never treated any woman with anything but the utmost respect,” he said. “The plaintiff’s lawyer states that it is not about money, but before filing the lawsuit he made an unfounded six-figure agreement request, which I quickly rejected. Unlike him, it is not about money for me – it is – to clear my name, and I’m looking forward to doing that. “
A women’s advocacy group, which has for years criticized the way the NFL deals with issues of domestic violence, called on Monday for the league to take action against Watson.
“The NFL’s failure to take growing sexual abuse cases against Deshaun Watson more seriously is an irritating sign of the league’s arrogant attitude towards violence against women,” said UltraViolet campaign director Elisa Batista in a statement. communicated.
“Despite the seriousness of these claims and the pattern that Watson specifically targeted massage therapists, the NFL took no action, insisting that the matter is simply ‘under review’.”
The group has long accused NFL commissioner Roger Goodell of inertia in the face of allegations of misconduct and again asked for his resignation.
“For years, Gooddell has turned a blind eye to violence and sexual abuse by players,” Batista said.
“Watson should have been suspended immediately last week, after the initial allegations of abuse emerged. Instead, Goodell is standing around and doing nothing as Watson’s lawyers embark on a cruel smear campaign against women who are courageously performing. “
An NFL representative and Goodell could not be reached immediately for comment on Monday.
