Hollywood isn’t the only industry rocked by sexual assault scandals…
According to a letter obtained by BuzzFeed News, the NFL is currently investigating an allegation that Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston grabbed a female Uber driver’s crotch in 2016.
Related: Jameis Winston Wants To Play Football AND Baseball!
The letter — sent from lawyer Lisa Friel to the alleged victim — read:
“The League has been informed that you may have been the victim of such a violation perpetrated by Tampa Bay Buccaneers player Jameis Winston. The league takes allegations of this nature very seriously and has opened an investigation into this matter.”
On Sunday, March 13, 2016, Kate (last name omitted) reportedly picked up the football player in downtown Scottsdale, Arizona where a group of men sat him in the front seat. The 2013 Heisman Trophy winner was reportedly the only passenger.
As she “started driving,” the athlete “behaved poorly” by shouting homophobic slurs at pedestrians.
After he asked to stop for food, “he reached over and he just grabbed my crotch” for allegedly three to five seconds while they were waiting in the drive-thru line at Los Betos Mexican Food.
The former Uber employee remembers:
“I wasn’t just creeped out… I was frozen… I mean he’s an NFL quarterback and I’m 5 ft 6. I’m not prepared for that. So I completely froze.”
Afterward, Kate filed a complaint with the company where she said “he is NOT safe for other drivers.” She, however, did not contact authorities.
According to an Uber spokesperson, the rider “was permanently removed from the app shortly after we learned of the incident.”
On Friday, Winston replied to the “false” allegations on Twitter, and accused the driver of being “confused as to the number of passengers in the car and who was sitting next to her.”
According to TMZ, sources connected to Jameis believe there were two other people in the car that night. He wrote:
“A news organization has published a story about me regarding an alleged incident involving a female Uber driver from approximately two years ago. The story falsely accuses me of making inappropriate contact with this driver. I believe the driver was confused as to the number of passengers in the car and who was sitting next to her. The accusation is false, and given the nature of the allegation and increased awareness and consideration of these types of matters, I am addressing this false report immediately. At the time of the alleged incident, I denied the allegations to Uber, yet they still decided to suspend my account.
I am supportive of the national movement to raise awareness and develop better responses to the concerns of parties who find themselves in these types of situations, but this accusation is false. While I am certain that I did not make any inappropriate contact, I don’t want to engage in a battle with the driver and I regret if my demeanor or presence made her uncomfortable in any way.”
Additionally, the 23-year-old’s rep Russ Spielman said via statement:
“We categorically deny this allegation. It is our understanding the uber driver was unable to identify the specific individual who allegedly touched this driver inappropriately. The only reason his name is being dragged in to this is that his uber account was used to call the ride.”
Contrary to popular belief, Kate says she doesn’t want money; she simply wants justice on behalf of women everywhere.
“I have been empowered by my sisters who have forged this path by speaking up, and I must do my part to make it a little more well traveled… If I’m silent, I fear that further harm will come to other women, if it hasn’t already… He sexually assaulted me, and I have every right to tell the damn truth about it.”
Truly a sad situation…
[Image via FayesVision/WENN.]
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