The first woman to accuse Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson of sexual assault has gone public.
Like the other 21 women, all represented by attorney Tony Buzbee, Ashley Solis is a massage therapist.
Watson hired her and most of the women himself. Solis says Watson assaulted and harassed her in her own home on March 30th of last year. She's been in counseling. "I replay the incident over and over in my head as if I'm trying to wake up from some horrible nightmare. Only that nightmare is real."
Solis calls herself a survivor of assault and harassment. She says it wasn't easy to go public. "I'm deeply saddened but not surprised to see so much victim blaming in the press and by online commenters. They have absolutely no idea what I'm going through or what happened to me."
She says some days she feels like a hero, other days like a failure. "I replay the incident over and over in my head, as if I'm trying to wake up from some horrible nightmare, only the nightmare is real. I blame myself at time which is insane. I can no longer practice the profession I love the most without shaking during a session."
She says Watson tainted a profession from which she took enormous pride.
"My father who was once a diehard Texans fan can no longer mention his name without turning red, seething with disappointment. That's the most heartbreaking aspect. We were all deceived into thinking Deshaun Watson is a good guy. Unfortunately we know good guys can do terrible things."
Houston police are investigating at least one case after the alleged victim filed a report last week but no criminal charges have been filed.
Watson has denied all allegations. His attorney released 18 statements from other massage therapists who claim Watson was always professional and polite. His attorney Rusty Hardin says
Watson "never made them feel uncomfortable or demanded anything outside the scope of a professional massage."
NFL vice president of communications Brian McCarthy issued a statement.
"The allegations are deeply disturbing and we take these issues very seriously. Immediately following news of the first allegations last month, and as has been reported, we initiated an investigation under the NFL’s Personal Conduct Policy. We are continuing to closely monitor all developments in the matter."