The following story contains graphic language depicting sexual assault. Reader discretion is advised.
CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson has been accused of sexual assault in a new lawsuit.
The suit was filed in Houston, Texas Civil Court on Monday court records show. ProFootballTalk.com first reported the lawsuit.
Houston attorney Tony Buzbee is representing the plaintiff, listed under the pseudonym of Jane Doe.
According the lawsuit obtained by 92.3 The Fan, Watson is accused of seeking a massage before sexually assaulting the alleged victim in her apartment during what was supposed to be a private dinner date on October 10, 2020.
Watson and the alleged victim had texted back and forth for a few months after Watson initially spotted Jane Doe while out with a group of friends in July of 2020. An associate of Watson asked Jane Doe for her phone number on Watson’s behalf and she obliged the lawsuit said.
After not wanting to meet Watson in public for dinner, Jane Doe invited Watson to her apartment. “Jane Doe knew nothing of Watson’s proclivities,” the suit stated.
Below is an unedited narrative of events alleged in the lawsuit filed Monday.
“Watson arrived at Jane Doe’s apartment complex on October 10, 2020. Apparently Watson was initially unable to find Doe’s specific apartment because he called Doe on her cellphone, aggressively yelling and screaming and stating that he could not find her apartment and that he ‘doesn’t have time for this.’
“At some point Watson found Doe’s apartment. When Watson finally arrived at Doe’s apartment, Doe had not finished putting on makeup, so she invited Watson in to have a seat in her living room while she finished getting ready. As she was putting on makeup in her bathroom, Doe left the bathroom door open and attempted a conversation with Watson, trying to ease the tension from his angry outburst. Jane Doe quickly began to believe she was talking to herself because Watson wasn’t responding.
“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.
“Jane Doe was at this point in the encounter terrified. She was in her small apartment with a much larger man, and she was still reeling from Watson’s outburst and aggression on the phone. Doe thus tried to appease Watson by rubbing his back, rather than his buttocks. Watson began insisting, again, that she focus on his glutes. Seemingly frustrated that Doe would only rub his back, Watson then turned over, revealing an erection. Watson continued to demand that Jane Doe massage him, gesturing from his knees to his groin. Jane Doe froze in fear, unsure of how to refuse Watson’s advances without jeopardizing her safety. Confused and scared, she reiterated to Watson that she wasn’t a masseuse. Watson asked her what she wanted to do instead.
“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 get out of her apartment. Enraged, Watson stormed out of Jane Doe’s apartment.”
The lawsuit also states that the alleged victim attempted to “resolve these issues with Watson without the filing of a public lawsuit. Those efforts failed.”
Watson served an 11-game suspension and paid a $5 million fine as part of a disciplinary settlement with the NFL stemming from allegations of sexual misconduct during massage therapy sessions made in over two dozen lawsuits filed against Watson. Watson reached private settlements in 23 of them while two remain open. All of the accusers were represented by Buzbee.
The Houston Texans also reached private settlements with some of the accusers who also sued the team.
Two grand juries in Texas declined to indict Watson on criminal chargers stemming from the original set of allegations made against Watson that became public in 2022.
The Browns and NFL league office have yet to comment on the newest allegations against Watson. 92.3 The Fan also reached out to Watson's attorney, Rusty Hardin, for comment. Messages to the league office and Hardin have not been returned.
Cleveland acquired Watson from the Texans in March 2022 for six draft picks, including three first round selections, before giving him a fully guaranteed $230 million contract.
Watson has played in 13 games with the Browns due to the suspension and a shoulder injury that ended his 2023 season.