HOUSTON — Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson must say whether he had sex with 18 massage therapists who assisted him last year after criminal complaints and lawsuits from other women, a Texas judge ruled Tuesday.
USA Today reported that Watson has 30 days to comply. He used to not discuss his past with the therapists. Watson is also required to provide other information about his massage history since 2019, including any language in his contract with the Texans about massages.
One of the NFL’s top quarterbacks, Watson, was traded from Houston to Cleveland last month.
He was accused of sexual misconduct by 22 women during therapy sessions, many of which he arranged by contacting the therapists on social media in 2020 and 2021.
To this point, two grand juries have declined to indict Watson on 10 criminal charges filed with the Houston Police Department. He is still facing the civil lawsuits and has been giving testimonies for several weeks.
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As part of those lawsuits, women’s advocates want Watson to answer written “license filings” about whether he had sex with the 18 therapists who assisted him after the first lawsuits were filed against him in March 2021.
Lawyers for the plaintiffs say the responses provide a pattern and motives for setting up the massages.
At Tuesday’s hearing, Harris County District Court Judge Rabeea Sultan Collier ruled in favor of the plaintiff, USA Today said. Watson’s attorney asked why, but Collier didn’t explain.
“The appeal is dismissed,” the judge replied. “Thanks.”
Watson, a three-time Pro Bowler, did not play last season after asking the Texans to trade him. When the first grand jury decided not to indict Watson, it piqued the interest of the Browns and several NFL teams.
Watson initially turned the Browns down before changing his mind, waiving his no-trade clause and inking Cleveland to a record five-year, $230 million full-guarantee contract.
Browns owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam said they initially had trouble with the decision to pursue Watson, knowing it would not be popular with many fans. However, they said they felt more comfortable signing him after meeting with Watson and learning more about him.
When Watson was introduced by Cleveland late last month, he told the media: “I have never attacked, disrespected or harassed a woman in my life. I’ve never done these things that people say.” It was the first time he had answered direct questions about the allegations.
Watson could still face disciplinary action from the NFL.
Last week Commissioner Roger Goodell said there was no timeline for the league’s investigation into Watson’s off-field conduct. An independent referee will determine whether Watson has violated the league’s conduct policy before Goodell issues a penalty.