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Los Angeles Rams all-pro wide receiver Puka Nacua has entered a rehab center after some recent off-field issues.
Nacua was recently accused of assault and battery by a woman who alleges he bit her on the shoulder on New Year’s Eve and made an antisemitic remark.
Neither Nacua’s attorney, Levi McCathern, nor the Rams, immediately responded to an email for confirmation.
However, the New York Post quoted McCathern as saying, “He was in there a substantial period of time before any of these allegations broke with Madison, and he’s scheduled to be there for a while longer.”
“The combination of stories ya’ll have run is certainly a contributing factor,” the attorney said, adding that Nacua wants to “improve his overall behavior in every aspect of his life that he can do it.”
Plaintiff Madison Atiabi says Nacua bit her and left teeth marks on her shoulder when they were in a van together later in the night, and she claims Nacua also bit her friend’s thumb.
McCathern strongly denied Nacua made any antisemitic statements but described the bites as “horseplay.”
Atiabi and her attorney, Joseph Kar, claim Nacua made an antisemitic exclamation that emotionally distressed her when they were together in Century City.
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McCathern said “the whole claim is nothing more than a shakedown attempt” and that the bite “left nothing more than a temporary mark,” according to TMZ.
Nacua apologized for performing an “antisemitic” act on a YouTube stream last last year. Nakua discussed touchdown celebrations on YouTuber Adin Ross’ stream, and, in the video, Ross instructed Nakua to spike the ball, flex and then rub his hands together. Ross, who is Jewish, has referred to the movement as his own “dance” or “emote.”
Many, however, believed the celebration perpetuated a harmful anti-Jewish stereotype. Nacua received overwhelming pushback and issued an apology.
Nacua caught 129 passes for 1,715 yards and 10 touchdowns last season, all of career highs.
Fox News’ Jackson Thompson contributed to this report.
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