© Troy Taormina | 2020 Dec 6
There are now seven civil lawsuits being levied against Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson, all by massage therapists accusing Watson of sexual misconduct. This comes after a third lawsuit was filed Wednesday night, that accused Watson of forcing a massage therapist to have oral sex with him in December 2020.
Originally two suits were filed, relating to two separate incidents, accusing Watson of “civil assault” by touching a massage therapist with his penis. The lawsuits have been filed by Houston attorney Tony Buzbee, who claims there are nine such total cases against Watson.
“Watson’s behavior is part of a disturbing pattern of preying on vulnerable women,” Buzbee said in the lawsuit.
The seven lawsuits filed so far depict a pattern of sexual assault against a massage therapist. While six of the lawsuits allege these were one-time encounters with Watson, one woman alleges she was sexually assaulted by Watson on multiple occasions. That lawsuit says the first massage was booked through the spa where the licensed aesthetician worked. The six other lawsuits allege Watson first inquired about the massage through Instagram direct messages.
Watson’s side denies all the allegations. Watson himself has referred to Buzbee, who was once neighbors with Houston Texans owner Cal McNair, as a “a publicity-seeking plaintiff’s lawyer,” and that Watson looks forward to clearing his name.
“I’m real comfortable with the kind of person that Deshaun Watson is, and I don’t like to publicly comment until I get all the facts,” Watson’s lawyer Rusty Hardin said after the first two lawsuits were filed. He added that “the allegations are really inconsistent with the kind of person he is.”
“Sexual assault is real. Victims should be heard, offenders prosecuted,” Watson’s agent David Mulugheta posted on Twitter Friday. “Individuals fabricate stories in pursuit of financial gain often. Their victims should be heard, and those offenders also prosecuted. I simply hope we keep this same energy with the truth.”
The NFL is currently investigating the matter.