Beats by Dre is reportedly ending its deal with Deshaun Watson in the wake of multiple sexual misconduct allegations against the Houston Texans quarterback. ESPN’s Sarah Barshop was first to report the news.
If confirmed, the Apple-owned company will be the second major brand to distance itself from the embattled QB. Earlier on Wednesday, CNBC reported that Nike was suspending its endorsement of Watson. “We are deeply concerned by the disturbing allegations and have suspended Deshaun Watson. We will continue to closely monitor the situation,” a company representative said in a statement.
The announcement comes just a day after Ashley Soils, the first woman to file a sexual misconduct lawsuit against Deshaun Watson, came forward to speak publicly. "I am a survivor of assault and harassment, Deshaun Watson is my assaulter and my harasser, he assaulted me at my home doing what I love most, massage therapy," she said in a press conference. The quarterback has been accused of sexually assaulting women and making unwanted sexual advances during massages.
Watson has denied the allegations leveled against him, and his lawyer issued a statement from 18 different massage therapists who claimed he didn’t put them in uncomfortable situations. 22 women in total have filed lawsuits against him, although the majority of women have chosen to do so anonymously. One of the most recent accounts from an alleged victim claimed that Watson attempted to settle, and was deleting Instagram messages that could be seen as incriminating.
He is currently under investigation by the NFL and the Houston Police Department.
