Allegations Against Ravens’ Justin Tucker: A Growing Controversy
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The Baltimore Ravens find themselves in the midst of a growing controversy as seven more women have come forward with allegations against their star kicker, Justin Tucker. These women accuse Tucker of engaging in sexually inappropriate misconduct at high-end spas, as reported by the Baltimore Banner on Sunday.
With these new allegations, the total number of therapists making claims against Tucker has risen to 16, spanning eight different spas. The incidents reportedly took place during sessions from 2012 to 2016, which coincides with Tucker’s first five seasons in the NFL.
Among the latest allegations, one woman recounted to the Banner that Tucker left what she believed to be ejaculate on the massage table. Another woman claimed that Tucker made intense eye contact throughout the massage while being exposed.
During a news conference held in the lead-up to the Super Bowl, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell addressed the allegations against Tucker, stating, “They are obviously serious issues, and he is taking that seriously as are we.” This suggests that Tucker could potentially face discipline under the NFL’s personal conduct policy.
In response to these new accusations, Tucker’s legal team directed the Banner to a social media post made by Tucker on January 30, where he described the allegations as “unequivocally false.” Tucker further elaborated that the Banner article “takes innocuous or ambiguous interactions and skews them so out of proportion that they are no longer recognizable. … This is desperate tabloid fodder.”
Adding to the complexity of the situation, Tucker’s lawyers provided a sworn declaration from the owner of Baltimore Spa & Salon, stating she never received complaints about Tucker or suspected any misconduct. However, therapists from the spa told the Banner they refrained from reporting his behavior to supervisors due to fears of losing their jobs.
The allegations against Tucker first emerged on January 30, when the Banner spoke to six massage therapists about his behavior. According to the article, Tucker’s conduct led some therapists to refuse to work with him again and resulted in two spas banning him from returning.
Tucker’s lawyers have refuted claims that he was banned from the two spas and denied any inappropriate behavior, labeling the allegations as speculative and “impossible to prove.”
On February 1, three additional massage therapists accused Tucker of misconduct. One woman presented what she claimed was an internal report from 2015 detailing her experiences with Tucker. She alleged that Tucker stroked her inner thigh during a massage, exposed himself, and left what she believed to be ejaculate on the table. She initially reached out to a reporter about her allegations in 2015 but did not pursue the matter further due to fears of retaliation.
Following the initial allegations last month, the Ravens issued a statement emphasizing, “We take any allegations of this nature seriously and will continue to monitor the situation.”
It’s worth noting that three years ago, Ravens coach John Harbaugh referenced the team’s zero-tolerance policy for domestic violence when asked about Deshaun Watson‘s six-game suspension following accusations of sexual misconduct with massage therapists.
Justin Tucker, 35, is a seven-time Pro Bowler and holds the distinction of being the most accurate kicker in NFL history. He is the longest-tenured player on the Ravens and the last remaining player from their Super Bowl championship team in 2012.
- 16 therapists from eight spas have made allegations against Tucker.
- All incidents reportedly occurred between 2012 and 2016.
- Tucker’s lawyers have denied all allegations, calling them “unequivocally false.”
- The Ravens are monitoring the situation closely.
Originally Written by: Jamison Hensley
