The NFL has announced that it will investigate allegations against Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker for alleged inappropriate behavior towards massage therapists at various spas and wellness centers in the Baltimore area. The accusations were detailed in a report by the Baltimore Banner, which interviewed six massage therapists who shared their experiences with Tucker between 2012 and 2016.
According to the report, several therapists claimed to have ended sessions with Tucker early or refused to work with him again. Managers from two spas also stated that they had banned Tucker from returning to their establishments.
The league spokesman, Brian McCarthy, stated that the NFL was made aware of the allegations through the investigative report and will take them seriously by looking into the matter. The accusations against Tucker include claims of exposing his genitals, brushing therapists with his exposed penis, and leaving what they believed to be semen on a massage table after treatments.
In response to the allegations, Tucker posted a statement on social media denying the claims and calling them 'unequivocally false.' He expressed that the interactions mentioned in the article were innocuous or ambiguous and had been exaggerated.
Tucker, who recently completed his 13th season with the Ravens, is a well-known figure in the NFL and among Baltimore fans. He holds the record for the longest successful field goal in league history with a 66-yard kick in 2021. In 2022, Tucker signed a four-year contract extension through the 2027 season, including $17.5 million guaranteed.
The Ravens organization acknowledged the Baltimore Banner's story and Tucker's response, stating that they take such allegations seriously and will continue to monitor the situation. The report also mentioned that Tucker had been terminated as a client by a spa chain in 2014 and banned from a now-closed establishment following incidents reported by massage therapists.
Tucker reiterated in his response that he had never received complaints from therapists, been dismissed from a session, or been unwelcome at any business. The allegations against Tucker bear some resemblance to separate accusations made against another NFL player, Deshaun Watson, who faced allegations of sexual assault and harassment during massage therapy sessions while playing for the Houston Texans.
Watson, now with the Cleveland Browns, missed the first 11 games of the 2022 season after an arbitrator found him in violation of the league's personal conduct policy. The NFL continues to monitor both cases as they unfold.
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