Allegations against Watson climb to seven
More lawsuits claiming sex assault, harassment are expected to be filed
Note: This story contains graphic content.
Four more people have accused Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson of sexual assault, advancing lawsuits that are expected to grow in number as additional women come forward to well-known Houston attorney Tony Buzbee.
The new litigation, filed Thursday and made publicly available Friday morning, means seven women total have alleged Watson assaulted or harassed them at different points in 2020. All of the women are massage therapists, work at spas or specialize in body conditioning and wellness.
Each of the allegations centers on separate encounters, mostly involving Watson reaching out to the women via social media and asking for massage sessions, according to the litigation. In each suit, the women describe a situation in which they felt Watson dictated how he wanted the session to go and persisted when they said he made them uncomfortable.
In the latest lawsuits, two women contend he touched them with his penis and exposed himself. Another woman said he kissed her against her will, tried to force her to touch his penis and exposed himself. A final woman said he touched her with his penis, tried to kiss her and exposed himself.
The first three lawsuits were similar: Two women said Watson touched them with his penis, and in the most serious of the allegations, the third said he forced her to perform oral sex.
Watson has not com
mented on the claims since Tuesday, when he denied disrespecting any woman and said he looked forward to clearing his name. He is being represented by Houston attorney Rusty Hardin, who has worked with other prominent Houston athletes such as former Astros pitcher Roger Clemens.
“I’m extremely proud to represent Deshaun Watson and wholly stand behind him against what we believe are meritless allegations,” Hardin said in a statement. “However, we will wait to comment in detail until we’ve completed our review of the numerous, evolving allegations from Mr. Buzbee. We will respond next week and ask you to keep an open mind until we do so.”
All of the women’s suits have been brought by Buzbee, who is also a former mayoral candidate. He said Friday he plans to file five additional cases against the Texans quarterback and that his law firm has spoken to even more women who allege similar conduct.
Most of the additional women also are licensed massage professionals who work in spas, Buzbee said, and each case alleges similar conduct.
Buzbee said his law firm has spoken to 10 women beyond the 12 he is already representing, for a total of 22. He said he has vetted each woman’s claims, including the first plaintiff who came to him.
“I understood that this case would generate a lot of interest. I wanted to make damn sure that what she was saying was plausible, was right and true. And I was convinced after visiting with her that she was telling the absolute truth,” Buzbee said at a news conference from his office in downtown Houston. “To be quite honest, she’s a very brave person. Her story certainly passes the smell test.”
Some people have already tried to discredit the lawsuits as false reporting. Watson’s agent, David Mulugheta, commented about the cases Friday on Twitter.
“Sexual assault is real. Victims should be heard, offenders prosecuted,” he said. “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.”
Buzbee said he would file the additional lawsuits “in due course” but did not reveal a specific timeline. He said one of the subsequent allegations stems from an incident that took place after he already had spoken with Watson’s attorney.
Buzbee also dismissed rumors that he has coordinated with Texans ownership, including chairman and chief executive Cal McNair, to bring the lawsuits against Watson after the quarterback said he was willing to sit out next season if the team does not trade him. The athlete is in a standoff with his team after formally requesting a trade in January.
“Yes, I live on River Oaks Boulevard and near the McNair family,” Buzbee said. “I wouldn’t recognize Cal or whatever his name is if I saw him on the street. This has nothing to do with free agency. I don’t know anything about that and frankly don’t care.”
NFL representatives told Buzbee on Thursday that they are investigating the claims.
The Texans offered no new comment on Friday but had previously said they will stay in contact with the NFL and that the organization takes the matter seriously.
After its investigation, the NFL could decide on penalties ranging from a fine to a suspension under the league’s personal conduct policy.
Houston police said they have no record of the incidents. Sexual assault is historically underreported: Research from the National Sexual Violence Resource Center shows that 75 percent of rapes and sexual assaults went unreported in 2018 to police.
“At this time, HPD is unaware of any contact between HPD and Houston attorney Tony Buzbee regarding the allegations contained in his recently filed lawsuits and no incident reports regarding these allegations have been filed in our jurisdiction,” agency representatives said in a statement.
All of the women have remained anonymous and are seeking minimum compensatory damages.
Here are basic details surrounding each allegation:
• March 28, 2020, at her Houston home. She is a licensed massage therapist and business owner who has been in the field for almost three years.
• June 2, 2020, at a Houston spa. She is a business owner and a licensed sports massage therapist who has worked in the field for 11 years.
• Aug. 28, 2020, at the Houstonian Hotel, Club and Spa. She is a massage therapist who has been in the business since 2019. She is from Atlanta and was flown to Houston for the massage, she said in the lawsuit.
• Sept. 24, 2020, at a Houston spa. She is a fitness company owner specializing in body conditioning and wellness therapy.
• September and October 2020 at a Houston spa. She is a licensed esthetician and has been in the field for nine years.
• Oct. 19 and November 2020 at her office in Houston. She is a business owner who has been in the field for six months, specializing in body work and stretch therapy.
• Dec. 28, 2020, at an office building in Houston. She is a licensed massage therapist who has been in the business for almost three years.
In some of the cases, the women said Watson alluded to the fact that he could harm their careers, according to the lawsuits.
“Plaintiff also feared what someone like Watson could do to her career if she caused a scene or reported his behavior. She felt powerless and ashamed,” one lawsuit reads.
He was also purportedly aware of the discomfort he brought some of the women, Buzbee alleges. Watson allegedly told one of them over the phone, “I make a lot of massage therapists uncomfortable and it’s really hard for me to find someone who will meet my needs,” one woman said.
Watson was usually concerned about the privacy of the sessions, according to the lawsuits, and he was typically naked and not wearing the usual coverings when the masseuses walked into the room.
The esthetician contends he reached out to her spa asking for a photo of her and stating he wanted to give her a massage. In one case, a woman said he ejaculated after becoming aroused, according to a lawsuit.
Some of the women said they walked out or ended their sessions early. One woman said she defecated on herself after Watson left.
In some cases, Watson attempted to contact for more sessions, Buzbee said. Many of the women said they refused or ignored the alleged additional inquiries.
The majority of the women say they now suffer from anxiety, depression, panic attacks or difficulty sleeping.