Three massage therapists accused star NFL quarterback Deshaun Watson of sexual misconduct in lawsuits filed this week in Texas, including a woman who alleged that she was forced to perform oral sex.
All three plaintiffs, who filed as Jane Doe, said that they are independent contractors who were surprised to be contacted via Instagram by one of pro football's best-known players but that they nonetheless booked appointments.
"Watson's behavior is part of a disturbing pattern of preying on vulnerable women," according to two of the lawsuits, all of which were filed by Houston lawyer Anthony Buzbee.
One of the allegations stems from an incident Dec. 28 when the therapist gave Watson, a member of the Houston Texans, a massage in a Houston office building, according to the complaint.
Watson repeatedly told her "to move her hands down to his pubic area," the suit says.
"Plaintiff felt intimidated and threatened. She was afraid of what someone like Watson could do if she did not submit to his demands," the lawsuit says. "Watson kept coercing and intimidating plaintiff and it was at this point that Watson coerced plaintiff to move her mouth toward his penis, forcing plaintiff to perform oral sex on him."
Buzbee added: "Plaintiff wishes she could have been more courageous and would have ended the massage. But she felt helpless in the moment. Plaintiff was under Watson's control."
The two other accusers said Watson exposed himself in massage sessions on March 30 and Aug. 28 of last year, also in Houston.
In the Aug. 28 incident, Watson is alleged to have flown the Atlanta-based therapist to Texas for a session at the Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa.
At one point, Watson "flipped over on his back, with his penis completely exposed," and then refused to cover himself with a towel, prompting her to prematurely end the massage and take an Uber to the airport, according to the lawsuit.
The March 30 session was at the plaintiff's home, where she broke down in tears, says one of the lawsuits, which alleges that Watson exposed himself and touched her hand "with the tip of his erect penis."
The suit alleges that as she was crying, Watson told her: "I know you have a career and a reputation and I know you would hate for someone to mess with yours just like I don't want anyone messing with mine."
After the first lawsuit was filed Tuesday, Watson said in a statement that he was being wrongly targeted by a "publicity-seeking" lawyer.
"I have never treated any woman with anything other than the utmost respect," Watson said. "The plaintiff's lawyer claims that this isn't about money, but before filing suit he made a baseless six-figure settlement demand, which I quickly rejected. Unlike him, this isn't about money for me — it's about clearing my name, and I look forward to doing that."
In a statement Thursday, the Texans said they want to learn more about the allegations.
"We take accusations of this nature that involve anyone within the Houston Texans organization seriously," the statement said. "We will await further information before making any additional statements on this incident."
Watson has played four seasons for the Texans,but he has demanded to be traded. His future has been a point of nonstop speculation since the end of the 2020 season, when he threw for a league-high 4,823 yards.
Harris County sheriff's deputies have not received a sexual assault complaint against Watson, a department spokeswoman said Thursday.
The Harris County District Attorney's Office could not be immediately reached for comment.
