(SportsRadio 610) - Deshaun Watson's attorney Rusty Hardin caused a stir Friday morning when at the end of an interview with Payne & Pendergast on SportsRadio 610, he appeared to try to explain the legality of "happy endings" from massage therapy sessions.
Of course, this was troubling for some, given that his client Watson is facing 23 civil lawsuits accusing him of sexually harassing or abusing massage therapists during sessions.
Watson and his attorneys have conceded to consensual sex happening with at least three of the women. So Hardin was asked about it at the end of Friday's interview, which spanned over 40 minutes.
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These comments were not well-received on social media, prompting Hardin to release a statement clarifying it all later in the afternoon.
"Deshaun Watson did nothing wrong. And as two grand juries have made clear, Deshaun did nothing illegal. Deshaun has always acknowledged consensual sexual activity with three of the plaintiff massage therapists after massages. And Deshaun has repeatedly sworn under oath that he did not force any of his accusers to have sexual contact.
"On a Houston radio show interview today, I mentioned that a massage that has a “happy ending” is not illegal, meaning it is not illegal for someone to have consensual sex with a therapist after a massage unless the sex is for pay.
"Deshaun did not pay anyone for sex. I was using the term hypothetically and not describing Deshaun’s case.
"I have reiterated to others it’s not ok to do anything that a woman does not agree to do. These women have alleged assault in their pleadings. I was speaking in a hypothetical situation. If there is a consensual sexual encounter after a massage, that is not a crime nor the basis for a civil lawsuit. I was not talking about what Deshaun did or did not do or expected or did not expect."
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