Earlier on Friday, BuzzFeed reported that star Tampa Bay QB Jameis Winston is being investigated by the NFL for allegedly grabbing the crotch of a female Uber driver in 2016:
The NFL is investigating an allegation that Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston grabbed a female Uber driver’s crotch in 2016 https://t.co/FMifEfJlym pic.twitter.com/8yKD2ZGv1Z
— BuzzFeed (@BuzzFeed) November 17, 2017
From BuzzFeed (emphasis ours):
Kate, a female Uber driver, was hailed to the lively party scene of downtown Scottsdale, Arizona to pick up a passenger around 2 a.m. on Sunday March 13, 2016. There, Kate told BuzzFeed News that a small group of men excitedly told her that she would be chauffeuring someone famous that night — Jameis Winston, 2013 Heisman Trophy winner and now quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The men placed Winston in the front passenger seat — Kate said he was the only passenger. “I started driving, and right away, Jameis behaved poorly” by shouting, in part, homophobic slurs at pedestrians, said Kate, who did not want to be identified by her full name for fear of negative attention and potential backlash from football fans. He then asked to stop for food.
Waiting in line at the drive-thru of Los Betos 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?”
“I wasn’t just creeped out,” said Kate, who had been driving with Uber for more than two years at that point. (She no longer drives for the service.) “I was frozen.” She described Winston as “very physically imposing.”
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But Ian Rapoport of NFL.com is reporting that BuzzFeed has the story wrong and that Winston was in the car with other people:
The article from @BuzzFeed alleges Jameis Winston was the only passenger in the car. Winston and his reps say no. I listened to the original voicemail from “Chris” from Uber stating “you or someone else in your vehicle" engaged in inappropriate behavior.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 17, 2017
The voicemail to #Bucs QB Jameis Winston from a person IDing himself as Chris from the Uber office — which I have listened to — is one reason Winston’s reps show multiple people were in the car. There is no known video of the incident
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 17, 2017
Winston posted a message to Twitter denying he groped the driver, adding the Uber suspended his account after the company’s investigation of the incident:
A news organization has published a story about me regarding an alleged incident involving a female Uber driver from approximately two years ago. The story falsely accuses me of making inappropriate contact with this driver. 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.
I am supportive of the national movement to raise awareness and develop better responses to the concerns of parties who find themselves in these types of situations, but this accusation is false. While I am certain that I did not make any inappropriate contact, I don’t want to engage in a battle with the driver and I regret if my demeanor or presence made her uncomfortable in any way.
Winston remains active for this Sunday’s game:
Per @wyche89, Jameis Winston won’t go on the Commissioner’s Exempt list. He’ll remain active https://t.co/47tER4AXPG
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 17, 2017
If you recall, Winston was accused of rape while at Florida State University:
Erica Kinsman has been consistent and credible in her accusation that Jameis Winston raped her. A victim's advocate at Florida State says that a second woman also accused Winston of sexual assault. Now an Uber driver accuses Winston of groping her crotch.
— Michael David Smith (@MichaelDavSmith) November 17, 2017
And he had other disciplinary problems while in school as well:
FSU quarterback Jameis Winston suspended half a game for screaming “F#@k her right in the p#$&y”http://t.co/jxaIworBHp
— BuzzFeed (@BuzzFeed) September 17, 2014
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