Prime Video is facing a ton of backlash for the way it covered Deshaun Watson during Thursday night’s game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns.
Watson, who had 268 passing yards, a touchdown and an interception in Week 4, was once considered a fan favorite in the NFL community. He lost all of that support in 2021 when over two dozen women accused him of sexual misconduct. According to the allegations, the Pro Bowler forced them to perform oral sex during massage appointments.
“He was first accused of sexual assault by a Houston massage therapist on March 16, 2021. The woman, who later came forward as Ashley Solis, filed a civil lawsuit against Watson, alleging he exposed himself and purposely touched her hand with his penis during a massage appointment at her home. Watson denied any wrongdoing,” People Magazine reported. “After the initial accusation, the number of women accusing Watson of indecent acts during massage therapy appointments grew to 24. Watson faced 10 filed criminal complaints, however, two separate Texas grand juries both declined to indict Watson on any criminal charges.”
Prior to the Steelers-Browns game on Thursday night, Taylor Rooks sat down with Watson to discuss his off-field controversy as well as his rough stint in Cleveland.
Scott Galvin-Imagn Images.
As you’d imagine, NFL fans had a problem with Prime Video giving Watson a huge platform.
“In a week where violence against women has been such a heavy conversation to bring this out is disgusting,” one fan said.
“Everyone in the NFL tiptoeing around this monster sexually assaulting every massage therapist in the state and going on a sympathetic PR run just because he’s 2-1 is nauseating,” a second fan wrote on X.
“Things like this are why people rightfully don’t trust broadcast partners to offer viewers a clear-eyed view of facts and context if they’re inconvenient for the entity with which they partner,” another person commented.
“This puff piece about a player overcoming the adversity of assaulting more than 20 women is bad enough— to air it this week in the wake of the Cornell 7 news is just sickening,” another social media user wrote.
What did Watson have to say?
When asked by Rooks if the skepticism he’s received from NFL fans is “fair,” Watson had an interesting response.
“Fair? Of course, to me, I’m gonna say no,” Watson said. “But life isn’t fair, and I understand. I can accept my responsibilities and everything that I went through and feel and move forward.”
Watson also said he was struggling with the world “kind of flipping” against him.
