NFL Star Sued for Failing to Show up at Own Youth Camp

What’s a youth football camp without its host.

Apparently it’s a lawsuit. Pittsburgh Steelers wideout Diontae Johnson is catching some heat for reportedly not showing up. The Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver was sued in federal court last week by the organizers of a youth camp bearing his name that allegedly had to refund families after he no-showed in May, according to Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

“The company that organized Diontae Johnson’s football camp — the one for which he never appeared due to what his representatives described as weather-related flight delays — is suing the Steelers wide receiver for an unspecified amount of money, according to a filing in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania.

FlexWork Sports Management LLC alleges Johnson’s no-show in late May subjected the company to “significant damages, in the form of refunds, credits, and reputational damage.”

The camp was supposed to take place on May 22 at Cupples Stadium on the South Side, with the $125 admission fee to include a “team photo” with Johnson, in addition to a camp T-shirt and “take home items from event sponsors.” Other levels of interaction with Johnson were offered for additional money.”

Johnson seemingly reacted to the lawsuit earlier Tuesday, with a cryptic tweet:

The Devil is out working.. stay prayed up 🙏🏾

— Diontae Johnson (@Juiceup__3) August 9, 2022

Diontae’s agents informed the organizers of the camp that his flight had been canceled the previous night and he would arrive later in the day. A subsequent exchange then established Johnson did not want to wait for the second flight and left the airport.

Luckily Johnson can afford to refund the campers. He lead the Steelers in receptions last season with 107, racking up 1,161 receiving yards scored eight Touchdowns.

Johnson signed a two-year, $36.7 million contract extension.

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