Jameis Winston has once again found himself at the center of a sexual assault investigation. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback is being investigated by the NFL for allegedly grabbing a female Uber driver’s crotch in 2016, according to Buzzfeed News.
The driver, identified as Kate, says she picked up Winston in Scottsdale, Ariz., around 2 a.m. on Sunday, March 13, 2016. He reportedly sat in the front passenger seat.
“I started driving, and right away, Jameis behaved poorly” by shouting, in part, homophobic slurs at pedestrians, said Kate. He then asked to stop for food. While they were waiting in line at the drive-thru of Los Beto Mexican Food, “he reached over and he just grabbed my crotch,” Kate said, alleging that Winston held his hand there for three to five seconds and removed it only after she looked up in shock and said, “What’s up with that?”
Kate, who no longer drives for the company, filed a complaint with Uber soon after the ride, writing that “apparently a big athlete in the NFL” reached over “and put his fingers on my crotch.” She added: “...it wasn’t my stomach or thigh, it was my crotch and I want to be clear about that.” Kate ended her incident report with Uber stating, “He is NOT safe for other drivers.” Kate said she doesn’t want money, and that the reason she came forward with her story now was that she wanted to tell the truth “about a powerful man who felt entitled to my body when all I wanted to do was my job.”
Uber confirmed to Buzzfeed that Winston was banned from using the service in the future. The Buccaneers said in a statement released later Friday that they are “obtaining further information” and “take these matters seriously.”
Russ Spielman, one of Winston’s agents, issued a denial to Buzzfeed.
“We categorically deny this allegation,” Spielman said. “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 into this is that his uber account was used to call the ride.”
Winston also released a statement denying the allegations. “The story falsely accuses me of making inappropriate contact with this driver,” Winston wrote. “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."
The alleged incident occurred nine months before Winston settled a civil lawsuit with a woman who accused him of rape in 2012. While he was a quarterback for Florida State, he was accused of raping a fellow student, Erica Kinsman. The alleged 2012 assault was not publicized until 2013 by the media, amid controversy of a cover-up by the school and the Tallahassee police. Kinsman also sued Florida State and reached a settlement that would pay her $950,000.
Source: Buzzfeed
