The Houston Texans have been added as a defendant in a civil lawsuit filed by plaintiffs’ attorney Tony Buzbee. Buzbee had previously announced that he intended to sue the Texans, alleging that they enabled former quarterback Deshaun Watson’s behavior by obtaining a Houstonian hotel and spa membership and giving him a nondisclosure agreement.
With the new lawsuit came even more damning information against Deshaun Watson and things he allegedly did while receiving massages.
According to the new lawsuit, Watson had become known for using his ‘small ‘towel trick’ and would sometimes hump massage tables and leave wet spots behind after finishing.
“The lawsuit says the owner of Genuine Touch, a massage therapy company that partnered with the Texans, reported Watson’s habit of “seeking out an unusually high number of massages from strangers on Instagram” to the Texans as early as June 2020, but the franchise “did nothing about it.”
The lawsuit says the owner, Joni Honn, complained to the Texans, and that her “stated concern to the Texans was that Watson was putting himself in danger of contracting Covid, or getting himself sued,” the lawsuit says.
Genuine Touch employees were “well aware” of what they described as Watson’s “sketchiness” and “attempts to push boundaries,” according to the lawsuit. Honn says she was aware of what she called Watson’s “towel trick,” using a small towel rather than the industry required draping. Multiple individuals from Genuine Touch were also aware that during at least one massage session Watson had “humped the table” and “left a wet spot,” the lawsuit says.
Genuine Touch was also aware that Watson was having sexual relations with at least one of its therapists during massage sessions, the lawsuit says.
“Despite this behavior, and after yet another woman questioned Watson’s behavior and threatened to expose Watson on the internet, the Houston Texans organization — rather than investigate and address Watson’s disturbing behavior — instead provided Watson with a NDA to ‘protect himself’ going forward from the random women he was finding on Instagram,” the lawsuit says.
Watson acknowledged the Texans arranged for him to have “a place” at the hotel, according to a deposition obtained in a New York Times report that said the franchise enabled their star quarterback’s behavior. Watson said his access to the property wasn’t under his name, according to the Times, and a woman who gave Watson a massage at the hotel said the room was registered to a member of the Texans’ training staff.”
The Texans issued a statement after the lawsuit was filed: “We are aware of the lawsuit filed against us today. Since March 2021, we have fully supported and complied with law enforcement and the various investigations. We will continue to take the necessary steps to address the allegations against our organization.”
Meanwhile, Watson, facing potentially significant punishment from the NFL under its personal conduct policy, is set for a disciplinary hearing before jointly appointed disciplinary officer Sue L. Robinson that begins Tuesday.
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Watson reached a confidential settlement in 20 of 24 lawsuits that alleged sexual misconduct, sexual assault, or other inappropriate behavior with female massage therapists.
Watson was not charged by two Texas grand juries. He has maintained his innocence throughout the legal process.
