Another Deshaun Watson accuser is speaking out.
Lauren Baxley, a licensed massage therapist who accused Watson of exposing himself to her and touching her with his penis multiple times, wrote that the lack of charges and Watson’s resulting $230 million contract were “a crushing blow to survivors everywhere.”
Baxley said the decision to not charge Watson has people thinking it’s a complete exoneration, rather than a prosecutor or grand jury deciding there isn’t enough evidence to proceed with a trial where the threshold is “beyond a reasonable doubt.”
Via The Daily Beast:
“The choice to not indict Watson on our testimonies — that were deemed “highly credible” by prosecutors and the detectives who worked our criminal cases — opened a floodgate of abuse, slander, and libel toward us on the internet. The worst of the women-haters came out, declaring the no-bills proof that we were “prostitutes” all along.
The day before the grand jury convened to hear our testimonial evidence, a person named Coby DuBose tweeted his speculation that we plaintiffs would be charged with “misdemeanor prostitution,” which would be “funny” for our lawyers. His purported evidence that we were sex workers was based on the fact that many of Watson’s victims work and reside in Houston. DuBose went so far as to claim that his vile lies were the “prevailing sentiment.” Drew Davenport, defense attorney and “Footballguys” staff member, responded to these tweets by saying, “Excellent stuff.” When the prosecutors and grand jury failed us, tweets and comments of that nature multiplied exponentially.”
A Deshaun Watson Accuser’s Open Letter: Cleveland Browns Deal a ‘Crushing Blow to Survivors Everywhere’ https://t.co/8DDwFucGUI via @yahooNewsUK
— Tom Williams (@tommyboy0690) March 30, 2022
Baxley accused such fans, as well as the Browns, of “evil” for pretending Watson has been deemed innocent.
She even calls out an NBA player.
“A failure to charge or convict of a crime does not equate to innocence. Watson, his fans, and the Cleveland Browns pretending it does is not only ignorant, it is evil. I would include a certain NBA player along with the other disappointing excuses of men who in one breath may bring awareness to the struggles of marginalized Black women, and in the next praise the elevation of a man who abused dozens of them.
I would never expect a public figure to side with Watson’s victims. However, I do ask that anyone with a responsibility to uphold basic morality simply shut their mouths and log off Twitter when they are tempted to show him support.”
NBA player is believed to be LeBron James, who tweeted out after the news broke.
🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾. YESSIR!!!!! #LFG 🐶🐶🐶 https://t.co/DXirS6DZ6f
— LeBron James (@KingJames) March 18, 2022
Baxley believes the team may be making the same mistake she did when she first met Watson.
“The owner of the Browns insisted they “got comfortable” meeting Deshaun Watson before awarding him with his record contract. I will admit, Deshaun Watson also ensured I felt comfortable before he trapped and assaulted me in a massage session he had promised beforehand was going to be “professional” and “non-sexual.” That’s what ambush predators do. They disguise themselves as something they are not.”
Watson may just be a wolf in sheep’s clothing, but he can play football, which I guess trumps everything…
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