Sexual misconduct in a massage setting occurs with alarming frequency. Most massage therapists have encountered at least one client who crossed a line during a massage treatment. Therapists, who often rely on tips to make a living, may feel powerless to stop it. The law, however, has options, especially if you reported the problem to your employer and they did nothing about it. You may be able to hold the abuser accountable in a civil lawsuit, so if you think the conduct you were abused while trying to do your job as a massage therapist, take the time to speak to a knowledgeable New York sexual harassment lawyer about your situation.
Many people have misconceptions about massage therapy and the facilities that provide it. Some assume (wrongly) that all massage businesses operate like the one in TV’s The Client List, where the massage comes with an opportunity to procure additional services of an illegal nature. In reality, massage businesses are serious places where genuine therapy takes place. Still, too many clients use the intimate setting and potentially vulnerable position of the therapist to engage in abuse. Although still widespread, the problem has come into a much brighter light recently, partly due to the alleged misconduct of multiple professional athletes.
Yesterday, a local news website from Baltimore published surprising news that echoed a similar story from 2021. According to the Baltimore Banner, Justin Tucker, the star kicker for the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens team, “engaged in inappropriate behavior” at multiple spas and wellness centers. The alleged incidents occurred early in Tucker’s career in Baltimore, from 2012 to 2016.
Six massage therapists complained that the football star exposed himself, touched them with his exposed genitals, and brushed their thighs with his hand. Several of the therapists allegedly ended sessions prematurely because of the man’s behavior, and some of them refused to work with him again. Two facilities banned the man from their establishments, the Banner reported.
A Similar Scandal from 2021
The Ravens kicker is not the first NFL star to face these kinds of accusations. In 2021, a massage therapist in Texas sued Deshaun Watson, a star quarterback who began his professional career with the NFL team in Houston. The therapist accused the man of touching her with his aroused genitals during a March 2020 session. Numerous more civil lawsuits ensued, with female therapists alleging a variety of inappropriate actions, such as Watson repositioning himself to cause a therapist to touch his genitals, refusing to cover up for his massage, asking a therapist to massage his intimate areas, and requesting oral sex.
One of the main ingredients that makes inappropriate client behavior so treacherous for massage professionals—especially young and/or newly licensed therapists—is the power dynamic. Many of the accusers in the Banner report were women in their early 20s. One woman told the Banner that, although she sensed that the man’s actions were intentionally inappropriate and not inadvertent, she continued the massage “because Tucker was a celebrity.” Another therapist recalled that Tucker made a point of telling her he was the kicker for the Ravens.
As the president of the Alliance for Massage Therapy Education explained, an abusive client’s fame, wealth, or power can create many credible concerns for therapists. “They’re worried about their license; they’re worried about their reputation in the community,” the president explained. Several of the therapists who accused Watson “faced widespread condemnation... and even death threats.” Fearing they will lose their jobs, lose their licenses, and therefore lose the ability to support themselves and their families, they often feel they are without recourse.
If a massage client has abused you, you likely have experienced shame and self-doubt even if you acted completely properly at all times. Do not let your pain or feelings of powerlessness stop you from holding the wrongdoers accountable. Instead, reach out to the diligent New York sexual harassment attorneys at Phillips & Associates. We are here to help you process the legal aspects of this sensitive matter and help you get the justice you deserve. Contact us online or at (866) 229-9441 to set up a free and confidential consultation.