2 women who filed lawsuits against Watson speak out
Two of the women who have filed lawsuits against Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson identified themselves Tuesday during a press conference held by their lawyer, Tony Buzbee.
Ashley Solis is the first massage therapist who filed a suit against Watson, according to Buzbee, before 21 more women also filed lawsuits alleging sexual assault and inappropriate behavior.
"I got into massage therapy to heal people," Solis said at Tuesday's press conference, according to Sarah Barshop of ESPN. "To heal their minds and bodies. To bring peace to their souls. Deshaun Watson has robbed me of that. He took that away from me. He tainted a profession in which I take enormous pride. ...
"I suffer from panic attacks, anxiety, and depression. I'm in counseling as a result of Deshaun Watson's actions. I hope he knows how much pain he's inflicted on me emotionally and physically. And I hope he knows how much pain he's inflicted on these other survivors."
Solis added, "People say that I'm doing this just for money. That is false. I come forward now so that Deshaun Watson does not assault another woman."
Buzbee said that Solis and at least one of his other clients gave statements to the police, Barshop adds.
"We were all deceived into thinking Deshaun Watson was a good guy. And we all know good guys can do terrible things," Solis said, according to Samantha Ketterer of The Houston Chronicle.
Lauren Baxley, who also filed a suit, did not appear Tuesday but wrote a letter addressed to Watson that was read during the press conference.
"Every boundary from professional and therapeutic to sexual and degrading you crossed or attempted to cross," Baxley wrote, according to Barshop.
Watson's attorney, Rusty Hardin, responded to Tuesday's press conference with a statement obtained by NFL Network's Mike Garafolo. Hardin said Buzbee emailed Scott Gaffield of Watson's agency seeking a $100,000 payment on Solis' behalf to settle a month prior to the first lawsuit being filed.
"My email exchanges with Mr. Buzbee and Ms. Brandfield-Harvey were very clear. We did not think that the facts showed that Deshaun did anything wrong with their client. We believed then - and fully believe now - that Deshaun learned a lesson about putting himself in this type of situation by interacting with people he does not know," Gaffield said.
"As the emails show, we were willing to continue discussions on Deshaun's behalf to explore ways to prevent a lawsuit and a public spectacle," he added. "But Mr. Buzbee informed us that he was unwilling to do so. We expect that this matter will be resolved in court."
The Houston Police Department announced last week that it would start an investigation into Watson. Hardin said they will fully cooperate with the police department.
Texans chairman Cal McNair and his family said they are taking the allegations against Watson "very seriously" in a letter sent Monday to Texans season-ticket holders.
"The allegations are deeply disturbing and we take these issues very seriously," the NFL said in a statement after the press conference, according to Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle. The league reiterated that it opened an investigation in March.