Deshaun Watson facing new lawsuit stemming from alleged 2020 massage

BEREA, Ohio — Another woman has filed a civil lawsuit against Deshaun Watson, alleging the suspended Cleveland Browns quarterback pressured her into oral sex during a massage session in 2020.

It is the 26th known civil lawsuit filed against Watson, accusing him of inappropriate sexual misconduct or sexual assault during massages.

In the lawsuit filed Thursday in Harris County (Texas), Watson is accused of soliciting the plaintiff over Instagram with a direct message for a massage at the Houstonian hotel room in Texas in December 2020, while he was a member of the Texans. The lawsuit states that during the session, Watson «continually pressured (the) plaintiff into massaging his private area» before he «removed his towel» and «offered to let her 'get on top.'» According to the lawsuit, the plaintiff «refused to have sex with Watson, however, he was able to pressure her into oral sex» and that «Watson paid (the plaintiff) $300 for her services, although her normal charge was $115 for an hour massage.»

According to the lawsuit, the plaintiff has «suffered from severe depression and anxiety» since the alleged incident.

«My client's experience with Deshaun Watson follows a series of disturbingly similar encounters reported by more than 20 women who have filed suit against the NFL superstar,» the woman's lawyer, Anissah Nguyen, told ESPN. «Like so many others, my client spent nearly two years struggling to cope with the shame and trauma from all that he has stolen from her and the daily pain that has become her reality.

»Knowing her story will bring on the hard conversations, criticism and even victim-blaming, the strength and bravery of these other women gave my client the courage to stand up and speak out. She seeks justice