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Sports

Texans star Deshaun Watson now facing 12 sexual misconduct lawsuits, under investigation by NFL

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A lawyer in Texas has filed 12 separate civil lawsuits that are all alleging sexual misconduct against Deshaun Watson.

The lawsuits were filed by Houston attorney Tony Buzbee, who has entered them into court on behalf of multiple clients all claiming that Watson committed at least one act of sexual misconduct or assault against them. The suits are all similar in nature: In each case, Watson is accused of acting inappropriately after hiring a female to give him a private massage. 

After Watson was hit with his third lawsuit, which came on March 18, the NFL confirmed to CBSSports.com that the league has opened an investigation against the Texans quarterback to see if he violated the NFL’s personal conduct policy.

Here are the latest details on the allegations (Warning, there are some graphic details): 

Lawsuit one

The allegations in the first lawsuit took place on March 30, 2020 at the home of the masseuse. In this lawsuit, which you can read here, the central allegation is that “Watson assaulted the Plaintiff by touching her with his penis.” According to the lawsuit, Watson allegedly reached out to a masseuse on Instagram and asked if she would be willing to give him a massage. Before the two agreed on anything, Watson allegedly asked the woman if the “focus” of the massage could be “on his groin area.”

The woman claims that about 25 minutes into the session it became clear that “Watson wanted a massage for only one reason — sex.” 

Eventually, the woman started crying and before she was able to get Watson to leave, he allegedly said “I know you have a career and reputation, and I know you would hate for someone to mess with yours, just like I don’t want anyone messing with mine.” 

The woman took that as a threat that Watson might try to ruin her career if she said anything. 

Lawsuit two

The second lawsuit involves an incident that allegedly took place on Aug. 28, 2020. Like the first lawsuit, Watson is accused of reaching out to a masseuse on Instagram. In this lawsuit, Watson is accused of exposing himself and inappropriately touching the woman. In this case, the woman was from Atlanta and Watson allegedly flew her to Houston where she was supposed to give him a massage at a local hotel. 

Before the day of the appointment, Watson allegedly asked the masseuse if she would be willing to work on his “glutes” and “groin” area. According to the woman, Watson got completely nude prior to the massage. After that happened, the woman pointed out that he should be wearing at least a towel, but Watson allegedly refused to put one on. Once the woman realized Watson wanted more than a massage, she left the hotel room. 

According to the lawsuit, Watson’s behavior is viewed as “part of a disturbing pattern of preying on vulnerable women.”

Lawsuit three 

The third lawsuit involves a situation that allegedly took place on Dec. 28, 2020. Once again, Watson is accused of setting up a massage appointment by using the messaging function on Instagram to contact a relatively unknown masseuse. In this case, the quarterback allegedly set up an appointment that was to he held at a Houston-area office building. 

According to this lawsuit, Watson actually forced the woman “to perform oral sex on him.” According to ESPN.com, the woman wrote in the lawsuit that she felt “intimidated and threatened” and that “she was afraid of what someone like Watson could do if she did not submit to his demands.”

Subsequent lawsuits

After the first three lawsuits came out, Buzbee said there would be more and he wasn’t exaggerating. The Texas lawyer filed four more lawsuits on March 19. In the fourth lawsuit that was filed, Watson is accused of sexually assaulting one woman two times. The first incident allegedly occurred in September 2020 and the second assault allegedly took place in October 2020. 

Watson was also hit with five more lawsuits on Monday, bringing the total to 12. According one of the lawsuits that was filed Monday and obtained by ESPN, Watson is accused of sexually assaulting a female massage therapist in just weeks ago by “touching her with his penis and exposing himself.”

On March 19, Buzbee said that he has been talking to 10 other women about a possible lawsuit against Watson, which would bring the total to 22.  

Watson’s response

After Buzbee publicly announced that the first lawsuit would be filed, Watson immediately issued a statement on Twitter where he denied all the allegations against him. 

“As a result of a social media post by a publicity-seeking plaintiff’s lawyer, I recently became aware of a lawsuit that has apparently been filed against me,” Watson wrote. “I have not yet seen the complaint, but I know this: I have never treated any woman with anything other than the utmost respect. The plaintiff’s lawyer claims that this isn’t about money, but before filing suit he made a baseless six-figure settlement demand, which I quickly rejected. Unlike him, this isn’t about money for me — it’s about clearing my name, and I look forward to doing that.”

Watson released that statement on March 16 after the first lawsuit came out, but hasn’t commented on the situation since the release of the second and third lawsuits. 

Reaction from the Texans

It seems the Texans found out about the first lawsuit on March 16, and after the allegations came out, the team quickly released a statement.

“We became aware of a civil lawsuit involving Deshaun Watson through a social media post [on Tuesday night],” the team said. “This is the first time we heard of the matter, and we hope to learn more soon. We take accusations of this nature that involve anyone within the Houston Texans organization seriously. We will await further information before making any additional statements on this incident.”

NFL is now investigating 

Buzbee shared a letter on March 18 that came from NFL senior vice president Lisa Friel, who runs the league’s special counsel for investigations. 

“I became aware of the lawsuits you filed [March 17], as well as the one you filed this morning, which contain various allegations of misconduct by Houston Texans player Deshaun Watson,” Friel wrote in a letter that was posted to Instagram by Buzbee (The post has since been deleted). “I am writing to let you know that the League has opened an investigation into these allegations and to request the cooperation of your clients in our investigation. Such cooperation would begin with engaging in Zoom interviews with myself and another League investigator at which, of course, you would be present. Please let me know at your earliest convenience if your clients are willing to assist us with our investigation of their allegations.”

The Texans have said that they will be staying in “close contact” with the league over the course of the investigation. 

With the league now investigating, there’s a chance that Watson could be hit with a punishment if the NFL finds that there’s any merit to the allegations. With an ongoing NFL investigation, it might also become more difficult for the Texans to trade their star quarterback as other teams might want to see how the investigation plays out before making a deal for the 25-year-old. 

Possible police involvement

Although Watson isn’t currently facing any criminal charges, that could change. Buzbee claimed on March 19 that police in Houston have reached out to him to find out about any possible crimes that have been committed. However, Houston police say they are “unaware” of any contact between the department and Buzbee. Although it’s not clear if contact has been made, Buzbee said he plans to cooperate with authorities and he also said during Friday’s press conference that he plans to put a packet together for police that will detail each incident. The lawyer also added that filing a police report will be part of his “next step.”

Even though it doesn’t appear that the police are involved yet, Buzbee has said that he would like to see a grand jury convened so that it can look at the evidence and decide whether Watson should be charged. 

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US

GOP Rep. Tom Reed apologizes, announces retirement amid misconduct claim

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U.S. Rep. Tom Reed, a Republican from western New York who was accused last week of rubbing a female lobbyist’s back and unhooking her bra without her consent in 2017, apologized to the woman on Sunday and announced that he will not run for reelection next year.

Reed, 49, said in a statement that the incident involving then-lobbyist Nicolette Davis occurred “at a time in my life in which I was struggling.” He said he entered treatment that year and realized he was “powerless over alcohol.”

Reed apologized to his wife and children, and to Davis, and said he planned “to dedicate my time and attention to making amends for my past actions.”

Reed, who was first elected to Congress in 2010, had been among the members of Congress calling for the resignation of Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo over sexual harassment allegations. In late February, Reed said he was seriously considering running for governor against Cuomo should the Democrat seek a fourth term next year.

Reed said in his statement Sunday that he would not seek any elective office in 2022.

The announcement came two days after The Washington Post reported the allegations from Davis, who was 25 and a lobbyist for insurer Aflac when she said Reed, seated next to her at a Minneapolis bar, unhooked her bra from outside her blouse and moved his hand to her thigh.

“A drunk congressman is rubbing my back,” she texted a co-worker at Aflac that evening, adding later, “HELP HELP.”

Reed released a statement Friday saying, “This account of my actions is not accurate.”

In his statement Sunday he said, “In reflection, my personal depiction of this event is irrelevant. Simply put, my behavior caused her pain, showed her disrespect and was unprofessional. I was wrong, I am sorry, and I take full responsibility.”

A former mayor of Corning, New York, Reed is co-chair of the House of Representatives’ bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus.

He voted against impeaching former President Donald Trump in January but voted in favor of certifying the 2020 election of Democrat Joe Biden.

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Sports

Four more sexual misconduct lawsuits filed against Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson

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Four more women on Thursday accused Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson of sexual misconduct in separate lawsuits — bringing the total to seven, accusing him of wrongdoing.

All four of these plaintiffs, who filed as Jane Doe in Harris County District Court, were massage therapists, spa workers or body work specialists who accused the NFL star of exposing himself and repeatedly touching them with his penis.

Like the three other women who accused Watson of sexual misconduct this week, most were contacted on Instagram by the NFL player, according to lawsuits filed by their lawyer Anthony Buzbee.

The attorney said he’ll file lawsuits from five more accusers in coming days — and that his office is investigating 10 additional, similar allegations.

“It takes a lot of courage, a lot of courage to step forward when you’re dealing with somebody powerful,” Buzbee told reporters late Friday afternoon.

“Like it or not, sports is big. People blindly and irrationally follow sports and are loathe to believe victims. That’s just the way it is.”

Watson’s lawyer, Rusty Hardin, said in a statement that he was “extremely proud” to represent the football player and “wholly stand behind him against what we believe are meritless allegations.”

He said he could not comment further until the allegations are reviewed.

“We will respond next week and ask you to keep an open mind until we do so,” Hardin said.After the first lawsuit was filed, Watson said in a statement Tuesday that he was being wrongly targeted by a “publicity-seeking” lawyer.

“I have never treated any woman with anything other than the utmost respect,” he said. “The plaintiff’s lawyer claims that this isn’t about money, but before filing suit he made a baseless six-figure settlement demand, which I quickly rejected. Unlike him, this isn’t about money for me — it’s about clearing my name, and I look forward to doing that.”

In an alleged Sept. 24 incident this past year at a Houston salon, Watson frequently moved “his body in a way that would repeatedly cause his penis to touch” the woman’s hand, according to her civil complaint.

“Plaintiff was shocked and moved away from him,” the lawsuit claimed. “Lying on the table on his back, Watson then ejaculated. Plaintiff immediately stopped the session and left the room. Watson dressed and left. Plaintiff felt violated and disgusted.”

  • In a June 2 session at a Houston spa, Watson exposed himself “several times” and “moved his body in such a way to make his penis touch plaintiff,” who was left feeling “absolutely terrified,” according to the lawsuit. The June 2 plaintiff appears to be the first of Watson’s accusers who said she had experience doing massage therapy for football players and other “high-profile athletes.”
  • In an October spa encounter, Watson allegedly tried to touch the therapist’s hand with his penis and complained that she was “wearing too many clothes,” accoding to Buzbee.
  • Watson “without notice kissed” another plaintiff during a Nov. 2 session at her office, the lawsuit said. As Watson moved his his penis toward the woman, he “told her that he would pay extra to have plaintiff work on those areas,” according to the civil complaint.

Three massage therapists and clients of Buzbee filed separate lawsuits earlier this week, accusing Watson of similar sexual misconduct allegations, including one woman who alleged that she was forced to perform oral sex.

Harris County sheriff’s deputies have not received a sexual assault complaint against Watson, a department spokesman said Friday.

A Houston police spokesman said Friday the department cannot confirm or deny any ongoing investigation. Buzbee said his office will turn over all its findings to police.

“Sexual assault is real. Victims should be heard, offenders prosecuted,” Watson’s agent David Mulugheta said in statement on Friday.

“Individuals fabricate stories in pursuit of financial gain often. Their victims should be heard, and those offenders also prosecuted. I simply hope we keep this same energy with the truth.”

The NFL told the Houston Texans on Thursday that the league has begun an investigation into the allegations against Watson, officials said.

“The NFL informed us today that they will conduct an investigation into the allegations made in the civil lawsuits filed against Deshaun Watson. We will stay in close contact with the league as they do,” a Houston Texans spokesperson said in an email.

“We continue to take this and all matters involving anyone within the Houston Texans organization seriously. We do not anticipate making any additional statements until the NFL’s investigation concludes.”

NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told NBC News in an email that the “matter is under review of the league’s personal conduct policy.” Regardless of a criminal conviction or investigation, the NFL can suspend Watson if they find he violated the league’s personal conduct policy, including sexual misconduct, according to the NFL website.

Watson has played four seasons for the Texans, but he’s demanded to be traded. His future has been a point of nonstop speculation since the end of the 2020 season, when he threw for a league-high 4,823 yards.

Diana Dasrath

Diana Dasrath is entertainment producer and senior reporter for NBC News covering all platforms.

Wilson Wong

Wilson Wong is a breaking news reporter with NBC News. 

David K. Li

David K. Li is a breaking news reporter for NBC News.



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World

Powerful German Editor, Accused of Misconduct, Takes Leave

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The editor in chief of Bild, Europe’s largest newspaper and an influential force in German politics and society, has taken a leave of absence while a law firm conducts an investigation into accusations made against him, the publication’s owner said.

Julian Reichelt, the editor, denies accusations of misconduct, Axel Springer, Bild’s publisher, said in a statement. Springer said it had no “clear evidence” of misconduct, but had hired the law firm Freshfields to investigate the accusations. It did not specify what they were.

The accusations were first reported by the magazine Spiegel, which cited half a dozen female employees who had worked for Bild and complained of coercion by Mr. Reichelt. Spiegel did not name the female employees. The magazine said the women accused Mr. Reichelt of abusing his position of authority and creating a hostile work environment but did not provide further details.

“To make sure that the investigation process can be seen through to the end undisturbed, and the editorial team can work without further burdens,” Springer said, Mr. Reichelt “has asked the Axel Springer board to release him from his functions until the accusations have been clarified.”

Alexandra Würzbach, editor of Bild’s Sunday edition, will take over Mr. Reichelt’s duties, Springer said.

The #MeToo movement has hit Europe with much less force than in the United States, and cases of powerful men brought down by accusations of misconduct against women have been relatively rare.

Germany and most European countries protect the identities of accused people in legal proceedings, making it more difficult for the media to report about cases of harassment.

Courts have often been unsympathetic. In 2019, a French court ordered the leader of the country’s equivalent to the #MeToo movement to pay damages to a former television executive she had accused of making salacious and humiliating advances to her.

With a print circulation of 1.2 million, Bild is Europe’s largest newspaper, but like most publications has suffered steep declines in print readership. In 2011, daily print sales averaged 2.8 million, according to the newspaper’s website, and that was down from 4 million in 1965.

With its colorful graphics and emphasis on scandal, celebrities and sports, Bild — which means “picture” — is Germany’s populist daily newspaper. The readership skews male. Until 2012, Bild featured a photo of a topless woman on the front page every day, and continues to publish images of semi-naked “Bild Girls” online.

Unlike Britain’s right-wing tabloids, Bild is relatively nonpartisan, but nevertheless opinionated, with an aggressive tabloid style although it is printed on a broadsheet format. Because of Bild’s reach it is often the publication that leading political figures use to communicate with voters, offering exclusive interviews or juicy leaks.

Mr. Reichelt, 40, a former war correspondent who became editor in chief of Bild in 2017, also frequently wrote opinion pieces. He had lately railed against what he said was the German government’s mismanagement of the pandemic crisis. He complained earlier this month that the authorities fined joggers for not wearing masks while federal and state governments bungled the rollout of vaccines.

Axel Springer, Bild’s parent company, is one of Europe’s most prominent media firms. Springer also owns Welt, a German daily newspaper; the online news site Business Insider; and Politico Europe. KKR, the private equity firm, owns 36 percent of Springer shares and holds three seats on the company’s nine-person supervisory board. Friede Springer, widow of founder Axel Springer, remains a major shareholder and a member of the board.

Springer said in a statement on Saturday that the investigation involving Mr. Reichelt would include “an evaluation of the credibility and integrity of all parties involved.”

The publisher added: “Prejudgments based on rumors are unacceptable for the Axel Springer corporate culture.”

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Sports

Kansas, coach Les Miles part ways amid allegations of misconduct from time at LSU

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Kansas and head football coach Les Miles have mutually agreed to part ways effective immediately, the school announced late Monday night. Miles, who took over the Jayhawks program in 2019, was placed on administrative leave over the weekend after an explosive report became public last week that revealed he behaved inappropriately around women during his time as LSU coach.

Announcing the decision to place him on administrative leave over the weekend, Kansas athletic director Jeff Long vowed to “conduct a full review” to determine appropriate next steps.

“I am extremely disappointed for our university, fans and everyone involved with our football program,” Long said Monday night. “There is a lot of young talent on this football team, and I have no doubt we will identify the right individual to lead this program. We will begin the search for a new head coach immediately with an outside firm to assist in this process. We need to win football games, and that is exactly what we’re going to do.”

Miles, who was 3-18 in his two seasons at Kansas, called the mutual parting a “difficult day” for him and his family. The terms of the separation were not disclosed.

“I love this university and the young men in our football program. I have truly enjoyed being the head coach at KU and know that it is in a better place now than when I arrived,” he said. “To our student-athletes, I want you to remember that you came to play for KU and earn a degree here. So, I implore you to stay and build on what we started and do all of the things we talked about doing together. There is a bright future for all of you and for KU Football.”

Kansas offensive coordinator Mike DeBord will continue to serve as the program’s acting coach until an interim coach is determined, the program explained. A national search for a new coach will begin immediately.

Miles’ alleged misconduct at LSU surfaced after a Husch Blackwell investigation into Title IX issues at LSU, which detailed inappropriate behavior that included “texting female students, taking them to his condo alone, making them feel uncomfortable and, on at least one occasion, kissing a student and suggesting they go to a hotel after telling her he could help her career.” The Husch Blackwell investigation also brought the revelation that former LSU athletic director Joe Alleva wanted to fire Miles for cause in 2013 over his misconduct. Miles continued to coach the Tigers before being fired in the fall of 2016.

Kansas officials told CBS Sports’ Dennis Dodd that the Jayhawks thoroughly vetted Miles and did not encounter any red flags ahead of his hiring.

“We did background checks. We did all of those kinds of things,” said a high-ranking school official who did not want to be identified because of the sensitive nature of the proceedings. “We talked to people about Les and what he was doing. No one gave any indication of this. No investigations, no reports, no nothing. Zero.”

Miles previously reached a settlement with a former LSU athletic department student intern while he served as coach at LSU, according to a February report in the Baton Rouge Advocate. He has denied any wrongdoing. His attorney, Peter Ginsberg, issued a statement Saturday calling Long’s decision to place Miles on leave as “bending to the winds of media blowback.”

“Kansas’ decision to put Les Miles on administrative leave is both disturbing and unfair,” Ginsburg said Saturday. “To fail to recognize that a person’s career should not be compromised by unsubstantiated allegations hardly is consistent with the example an institution of higher learning should champion.”

Kansas sources pushed back against Ginsberg’s assertion.

“That was disappointing,” a source told Dodd referring to Ginsburg’s statement. “He put out a misleading comment in his statement.”

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Entertainment

James Franco reaches settlement in sexual misconduct suit stemming from the acting school he founded

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Attorneys for the plaintiffs in the case against James Franco announced they have reached a tentative settlement over allegations that the actor intimidated students at his acting and film school into sexual situations.

The two sides filed a joint status report in Los Angeles Superior Court telling a judge a settlement had been reached in the class-action lawsuit brought by former students at the Franco-founded Studio 4, which went defunct in 2017. Elements of the lawsuit may live on, though.

The document was filed on Feb. 11, but the settlement has not previously been reported.

Actresses and ex-students Sarah Tither-Kaplan and Toni Gaal, who first filed the lawsuit in 2019, have agreed to drop their individual claims under the agreement, according to the court filing. Their lawsuit said Franco pushed his students into performing in increasingly explicit sex scenes on camera in an “orgy type setting” that went far beyond those acceptable on Hollywood film sets.

JAMES FRANCO ACCUSED OF SEXUAL MISCONDUCT BY 5 WOMEN, GRILLED BY SETH MEYERS

It alleged that Franco “sought to create a pipeline of young women who were subjected to his personal and professional sexual exploitation in the name of education,” and that students were led to believe roles in Franco’s films would be available to those who went along.

James Franco settled a lawsuit against him filed over alleged misconduct at his acting school.
(REUTERS/Mike Blake)

The lawsuit said the incidents occurred in a master class on sex scenes that Franco taught at Studio 4, which opened in 2014.

The two sides had been in discussions on a settlement for several months, and the lawsuit’s progress had been paused while they talked.

Plaintiffs’ attorneys from the firm of Valli Kane & Vagnini, LLP, confirmed the agreement in a statement to The Associated Press on Saturday night, adding that it will be “further memorialized in a Joint Stipulation of Settlement to be filed with the Court at a later date,” but giving no further comment or details.

Representatives for Franco did not immediately respond to Fox News’ request for comment.

In a previous court filing, Franco’s attorneys, while praising the #MeToo movement that helped inspire the lawsuit, called its claims “false and inflammatory, legally baseless and brought as a class action with the obvious goal of grabbing as much publicity as possible for attention-hungry Plaintiffs.” They pointed out that Tither-Kaplan had previously expressed gratitude for the opportunity to work with Franco.

JAMES FRANCO’S ACTING SCHOOL ACCUSED OF SEXUALLY EXPLOITING 2 WOMEN

The lawsuit also names Franco’s production company Rabbit Bandini and his partners including Vince Jolivette and Jay Davis as defendants.

The sexual exploitation allegations of other plaintiffs in the class action will be dismissed without prejudice, meaning they may be re-filed, the joint status report said.

Fraud allegations brought by those plaintiffs will be “subjected to limited release,” the document says, without further details or explanation.

Actor James Franco settled his lawsuit over sexual misconduct at his acting schoool.
(Reuters)

The document does not reveal how much money may be involved in the deal.

Before filing the lawsuit, Tither-Kaplan aired her allegations of sexual misconduct against Franco along with other women in the Los Angeles Times after Franco won a Golden Globe Award for “The Disaster Artist” in early 2018, when the wave of the #MeToo movement was sweeping across Hollywood.

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In a subsequent interview on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” Franco called the sexual misconduct stories about him inaccurate, but said, “If I’ve done something wrong, I will fix it. I have to.”

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Franco, 42, best known for starring in comedies with Seth Rogen, has generally kept a low-profile since the allegations arose in what had been a highly productive period that culminated in the acclaimed “Disaster Artist.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Entertainment

Chris D’Elia Gets Emotional Talking About Sexual Misconduct Allegations

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Chris D’Elia just posted a raw, emotional account of his life then and now … then, when sex controlled his life, and now, where he’s apologizing and getting therapy.

Chris has been MIA since allegations surfaced 8 months ago that he was grooming underage girls online and allegedly exposing himself to several women.

Chris says the relationships he’s had were all consensual and legal, but he acknowledges his conduct was wrong because of the way he approached sex.

He seems tormented as he speaks about a “lifestyle that I didn’t know how to stop.” He says he’s cheated on most of the women he’s been with including his fiancee, Kristin Taylor … whom he calls his “dream girl.”

Chris got extremely emotional as he talked about how he’s been working on himself and trying to be a good role model for his son.

He talks about the difficulty of making himself better, but he says he’s working hard to become a better person.

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Entertainment

Chris D’Elia Denies Sexual Misconduct Claims in New Video

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Chris D’Elia.
Photo: Michael S. Schwartz/Getty Images

Months after multiple accusations of sexual harassment and misconduct led to Netflix pulling his upcoming prank show, former costar Whitney Cummings condemning his “pattern of predatory behavior,” and Tig Notaro taking over his role in Zack Snyder’s Army of the Dead, comedian Chris D’Elia posted a ten-minute video to YouTube on February 19, his first in eight months, once again denying any claims of criminality made against him. “First of all, I do know how it looks, with all the stuff that’s been said, and the emails that have been put out there, and what the media has been trying to say,” D’Elia said in the video. “I know it looks bad, and it doesn’t show the full scope of what happened. I stand by the fact that all my relationships have been consensual and legal, and that’s just it. That’s the truth.”

In most of the video, D’Elia focuses on his self-described life-controlling “problem” with sex, including his history of being “flippant” about having sex with fans while in relationships. “Sex controlled my life. It was my focus all the time. I had a problem, and I do have a problem,” he said. “It was out of control, so I have a chance here to apologize to the people that got caught up in that shit, and the lies that I would tell my fiancée, my friends, and I’m sorry.” D’Elia added that he’s been “on this path to recovery for a bunch of months” and that “it’s the hardest thing ever to have to look at yourself and realize that’s that’s what it is, and that’s what you’ve done, and that’s who you are.”

Last summer, the You actor was accused of allegedly soliciting nude photos from underaged girls online, while in September, several women claimed the comedian exposed himself to them. D’Elia denied the allegations on both occasions, with his attorney, Andrew Brettler, noting in September that D’Elia “has never engaged in any sexual conduct with any woman without her consent.”

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Sports

Cheerleaders In Netflix Show Face Sex Misconduct Claims

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Robert Joseph Scianna Jr., 25, and Mitchell Ryan, 23, two cheerleaders who appeared in the Netflix docuseries Cheer, have separately been charged with alleged offenses relating to sexual misconduct with minors this week.

Ryan, a member of the Navarro College cheer team that was the focus of the Netflix series, was arrested in Texas on Wednesday. He was charged with aggravated sexual assault against a minor over an incident that allegedly took place in July 2020, the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office told BuzzFeed News.

His lawyer Jeremy Rosenthal did respond to BuzzFeed News’ request for comment, but Rosenthal told USA Today, “This has been a nightmare for Mitch and his family. We look forward to Dallas County hearing the truth and this case being over.”

Ryan posted bond on Friday morning and was released, the sheriff’s office said.

Scianna, whose website says he is an NCA Champion and a two-time World Champion, was also arrested on Wednesday by Chesterfield County Police in Virginia, USA Today reported.

He has been charged with indecent liberties with a minor and using a communication system to solicit sex, a spokesperson for the Chesterfield County Jail confirmed to BuzzFeed News.

Police said he allegedly arranged to meet a juvenile whom he met through a social media platform for sex, USA Today reported.

Scianna did not respond to a request for comment.

The United States All Star Federation (USASF), a network of youth athletes in cheerleading, said in a statement Friday that they are “outraged by the reports of sexual misconduct.”

The organization said it did not know about the allegations of sexual misconduct against Scianna prior to his arrest.

However, the USASF had been aware of the allegations against Ryan after receiving a complaint in late October, it said, and “immediately ensured that it had been reported to law enforcement and later began an investigation of our own, which was ongoing when he was arrested.”

The organization told BuzzFeed News that Scianna and Ryan have been placed on the “Unified Ineligibility List.”

The charges against the two cheerleaders involved in the Netflix docuseries comes after Jerry Harris, a star of the show, was charged additional child pornography charges in December.

Harris had been arrested in September on suspicion of producing child pornography, and prosecutors later claimed in a pretrial detention hearing that he could have allegedly victimized at least 10 boys.

In a statement to ABC News at the time of his arrest, a spokesperson for Harris said they “categorically dispute” the allegations against him. However, the initial criminal complaint filed against him stated that he admitted to investigators that he had sex with a minor at a cheer competition in 2019.

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Entertainment

Netflix Docuseries ‘Cheer’ Has Two More Sex Misconduct Arrests – Deadline

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The troubled Netflix docuseries Cheer this week saw two more of its subjects arrested in separate criminal cases related to alleged sex misconduct involving minors.

Already reeling from similar allegations against series star Jerry Harris, the show saw Robert Joseph Scianna Jr., a 25-year-old coach and choreographer, and Mitchell Ryan, a member of the Navarro College cheer team, arrested.

Scianna Jr. was arrested Wednesday in Virginia and charged with felony counts of taking indecent liberties with a child and using an electronic communication device to solicit sex. The Chesterfield County Police Department claimed he arranged to meet a juvenile with whom he connected on social media for sex.

Ryan was also arrested Wednesday in Texas. Ryan, 23, was charged with felony aggravated sexual assault of a child relating to an unspecified incident that allegedly occurred July 24, Dallas County Sheriff’s Department records show.

“This has been a nightmare for Mitch and his family,” Ryan’s attorney Jeremy Rosenthal said. “We look forward to Dallas County hearing the truth and this case being over.”

Five months ago, celebrity cheerleader Harris was arrested and accused of soliciting nude photos and sex from minors. He faces multiple felony charges, including sexual exploitation of children and transportation with intent for illicit sexual conduct.



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