Following the accusations against NFL kicker Justin Tucker, Stephen A. Smith promises to ensure he receives the same scrutiny that was directed at Deshaun Watson. Tucker has been accused of sexual misconduct, with The Baltimore Banner publishing a report alleging he engaged in “inappropriate behavior” at four exclusive spas and wellness centers between 2012 and 2016. The report details that six different massage therapists accused Tucker of various misconducts, including exposing his genitals and inappropriate contact, as well as leaving what they believed to be ejaculate on the table.
Tucker has since denied the allegations, claiming The Banner committed “journalistic failures” by reporting on the matter. On Friday morning, Stephen A. Smith addressed these allegations on First Take, emphasizing the necessity for Tucker to be treated the same as Watson. “We’re gonna keep that same energy. On this show, we’re gonna do that. Because when Deshaun Watson was accused of these things, we were all over it. Justin Tucker is not getting a pass,” Smith stated in a
“pic.twitter.com/Nfdayws0b2” – Stephen A. Smith January 31, 2025
.
Smith remarked, “These are allegations, we’ve said that. Inappropriate sexual behavior… Deshaun Watson was never arrested, but ultimately had to address these accusations through out-of-court settlements, leading to an 11-game suspension and a $5 million fine as part of a settlement reached between the league and the NFL Players Association.” He reiterated, “We’re gonna keep that same energy. We owe it to our audience to be fair. And if we maintained that momentum with Deshaun Watson, we can’t escape doing so with Justin Tucker.”
The NFL suspended quarterback Deshaun Watson for 11 games in 2022 after multiple women accused him of sexual misconduct during massage sessions. Watson was never criminally charged, settling 23 of the 24 civil lawsuits he faced out of court. Meanwhile, Tucker, coming off the worst season of his NFL career, might have seen his performance affected by the impending allegations, as noted by Smith.
