DeShaun Watson has been sued by a female masseuse who says she was sexually harassed by the NFL star during a botched session — but Watson denies the charges, saying he was the victim of a ruse.
On Tuesday, the woman filed her case. Watson was getting a massage from the accuser when the quarterback “went too far,” according to her counsel, Tony Buzbee.
Watson issued a strong denial late that evening in an attempt to get ahead of the news.
Watson said, “As a result of a social media post by a publicity-seeking plaintiff’s lawyer I recently became aware of a lawsuit that has apparently been filed against me.”
“I have not yet seen the complaint but I know this: I have never treated any woman with anything other than the utmost respect.”
“The plaintiff’s lawyer says this isn’t about money,” he added, “but before filing suit, he made a baseless six-figure settlement proposal, which I quickly rejected.”
He continued, “Unlike him, this isn’t about the money for me; it’s about clearing my reputation, which I eagerly anticipate doing.”
Watson’s timing could not be more inconvenient, as he is currently attempting to push his way out of Houston in order to begin his NFL career with another franchise.
The Houston Texans said in a statement released Wednesday, “We became aware of a civil lawsuit involving Deshaun Watson through a social media post last night. This is the first time we heard of the matter, and we hope to learn more soon.”
The statement continued, “We take such allegations seriously when they concern those associated with the Houston Texans organization.”
