Deshaun Watson, the Cleveland Browns quarterback, faced numerous accusations of sexual misconduct starting in 2021. More than 20 women, primarily massage therapists, filed civil lawsuits against him, alleging inappropriate behavior during massage sessions. Watson denied all allegations, and while many of the civil cases were settled, legal proceedings and investigations followed. In 2022, the NFL suspended Watson for 11 games and fined him $5 million for violating the league’s personal conduct policy. Despite this, Watson resumed playing after his suspension.
Deshaun Watson signed a five-year, fully guaranteed $230 million contract with the Cleveland Browns in March 2022. This contract is one of the largest in NFL history and set a record for the most guaranteed money at signing. Despite the controversies surrounding him, the Browns structured Watson’s deal so that his base salary in 2022 was minimal, protecting him financially during his NFL suspension. The deal reflects Cleveland’s long-term commitment to Watson as their franchise quarterback.
Deshaun Watson’s performance since joining the Cleveland Browns in 2022 has been criticized for being inconsistent. After serving an 11-game suspension, Watson struggled to regain his pre-controversy form. In his return, he showed signs of rust and a lack of chemistry with his teammates. His accuracy, decision-making, and ability to manage games effectively were points of concern, contributing to mixed results for the Browns. Fans and analysts have noted that Watson’s current play has yet to justify the record-breaking contract he signed with Cleveland.
According to Pro Football Talk, a new woman has come forward to say that Watson assaulted her in her apartment.
The lawsuit explains that the date was set for October 10, 2020. Watson, per the lawsuit, was initially unable to find her apartment. He called her and allegedly began “aggressively yelling and screaming and stating that he could not find her apartment and that he ‘doesn’t have time for this.’”
“Jane Doe came out of her bathroom to investigate Watson’s silence and shockingly found him completely naked on her bed, lying face-down on his stomach. While Jane Doe stood there in shock, Watson turned his head and aggressively insisted that she massage him, gesturing to his buttocks. Jane Doe asked if Watson meant he wanted her to massage his back, but Watson indicated that it was his buttocks he wanted massaged.
“Before Jane Doe could answer, Watson grabbed Jane Doe’s leg and positioned her so that she was lying down. Watson then partially disrobed Jane Doe and penetrated her vagina without consent, implicit or explicit. Jane Doe felt paralyzed, unsure if she should risk her safety by trying to stop Watson or endure his assault. Watson roughly sexually assaulted Jane Doe for several minutes in a ‘missionary position’ before grabbing her and flipping her over. Watson continued to assault Doe aggressively from behind. Jane Doe finally gathered the courage and strength to escape Watson. Jane Doe quickly ran to her dresser to grab a heavy piece of décor for self-defense, and yelled at Watson [to] get out of her apartment. Enraged, Watson stormed out of Jane Doe’s apartment.”
The Browns and Watson have not commented.
Jane Doe’s lawyer is represented by Tony Buzbee, who represented most of the women who accused Watson of massage misconduct.
There is language in Watson’s contract that they will not forfeit a signing bonus or void future guarantees upon suspension. Watson has been in a 5 year relationship with Jilly Anais.
Flip the pages to read the entire lawsuit.
