Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson settles 20 of 24 sexual misconduct lawsuits


Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson has now settled with a majority of the women who have sued him for alleged sexual misconduct as he awaits a possible NFL suspension.
The NFL star has been facing 24 lawsuits brought by women who have accused him of misconduct. On Tuesday, Tony Buzbee, an attorney representing the accusers, announced that all but four of the cases have now been settled. The terms of the settlements were not disclosed.
Since March 2021, numerous women have come forward to accuse Watson of sexual harassment and assault during massage sessions. Most recently, a woman in Texas earlier this month alleged Watson exposed himself to her, touched her between the legs, and repeatedly asked her to have sex during a session, ESPN reported. Days later, another new lawsuit brought by a massage therapist in Houston alleged Watson masturbated in front of her and ejaculated during a massage.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Watson has denied the allegations. The NFL concluded an investigation into Watson earlier this month, and The Associated Press reports that Watson's decision to settle the lawsuits "may not dissuade the NFL from giving him a lengthy suspension."
Ashley Solis was the first woman to sue Watson for alleged sexual misconduct, and Buzbee noted Tuesday that her case has not been settled. Praising Solis as a "brave and strong woman," the attorney said that "her story and that of the other three brave women will continue."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
5 museum-grade cartoons about Trump's Smithsonian purge
Cartoons Artists take on institutional rebranding, exhibit interpretation, and more
-
Settling the West Bank: a death knell for a Palestine state?
In the Spotlight The reality on the ground is that the annexation of the West Bank is all but a done deal
-
Codeword: August 23, 2025
The Week's daily codeword puzzle
-
Florida erases rainbow crosswalk at Pulse nightclub
Speed Read The colorful crosswalk was outside the former LGBTQ nightclub where 49 people were killed in a 2016 shooting
-
Trump says Smithsonian too focused on slavery's ills
Speed Read The president would prefer the museum to highlight 'success,' 'brightness' and 'the future'
-
Trump to host Kennedy Honors for Kiss, Stallone
Speed Read Actor Sylvester Stallone and the glam-rock band Kiss were among those named as this year's inductees
-
White House seeks to bend Smithsonian to Trump's view
Speed Read The Smithsonian Institution's 21 museums are under review to ensure their content aligns with the president's interpretation of American history
-
Charlamagne Tha God irks Trump with Epstein talk
Speed Read The radio host said the Jeffrey Epstein scandal could help 'traditional conservatives' take back the Republican Party
-
CBS cancels Colbert's 'Late Show'
Speed Read 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' is ending next year
-
Shakespeare not an absent spouse, study proposes
speed read A letter fragment suggests that the Shakespeares lived together all along, says scholar Matthew Steggle
-
New Mexico to investigate death of Gene Hackman, wife
speed read The Oscar-winning actor and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead in their home with no signs of foul play