Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua is currently in rehabilitation, with his attorney confirming he entered the programme before a lawsuit was filed against him. The legal action, brought by Madison Atiabi, alleges that Nacua made an antisemitic comment and bit her on the shoulder during a New Year's Eve dinner.
Levi McCathern, Nacua's attorney, told The California Post that the 24-year-old had been in rehab for "a substantial period of time" before the allegations emerged, and is scheduled to remain there for a while longer. He said the decision to seek treatment was not a direct response to the lawsuit but rather an attempt "to improve his overall behavior in every aspect of his life."
According to the lawsuit, Nacua said "fuck all Jews" during the dinner in Los Angeles last year. Atiabi, who is Jewish, said she "immediately felt uncomfortable and emotionally distressed" by the remark. The suit also claims Nacua bit her shoulder, leaving teeth marks, and later bit her friend's thumb "with such force that her companion screamed in acute pain."
McCathern strongly denied that Nacua made any antisemitic statements, describing the alleged biting as "horseplay." He added that "multiple sober witnesses have stated unequivocally that Puka never made the comments Ms Atiabi claims."
This is not the first controversy for Nacua. In December, he issued an apology after performing a gesture that plays upon antisemitic tropes during an internet livestream. On the field, he had a standout season, leading the NFL with 129 catches for 1,715 yards and 10 touchdowns in the regular season, then adding 24 catches for 332 yards and two scores in the playoffs. The Rams have not yet announced progress on a contract extension that would likely make him one of the highest-paid receivers in NFL history.
