In March of 2016, a female Uber driver filed an incident report with the company, claiming that Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Jameis Winston had grabbed her crotch while sitting in the front seat of her car. Jameis was ultimately banned from using Uber, but the woman never went to police about the incident because she feared backlash from NFL fans.
Today, the story has been made public. Buzzfeed spoke with the woman, identified as Kate, who says, “He sexually assaulted me, and I have every right to tell the damn truth about it." The NFL is now investigating the allegations.
Almost immediately after the Buzzfeed story was published, Jameis issued a statement denying the incident. In the statement, Jameis says he is supportive of the national movement to raise awareness and develop better responses to these types of situations, but says the accusations are false.
Check out Winston's response to the allegations below,
“A news organization has published a story about me regarding an alleged incident involving a female Uber driver from approximately two years ago. The story falsely accuses me of making inappropriate contact with this driver. I believe the driver was confused as to the number of passengers in the car and who was sitting next to her. The accusation is false, and given the nature of the allegation and increased awareness and consideration of these types of matters, I am addressing this false report immediately. At the time of the alleged incident, I denied the allegations to Uber, yet they still decided to suspend my account.
"I am supportive of the national movement to raise awareness and develop better responses to the concerns of parties who find themselves in these types of situations, but this accusation is false. While I am certain that I did not make any inappropriate contact, I don't want to engage in a battle with the driver and I regret if my demeanor or presence made her uncomfortable in any way."
According to Buzzfeed, while waiting in line at the drive-thru of Los Betos Mexican Food, Jameis allegedly reached over, grabbed the driver's crotch and held his hand there for three to five seconds and removed it only after she looked up in shock and said, “What’s up with that?”
Winston was accused of assaulting a Florida State student in 2012, but charges were never filed and the case was closed in December of 2013.
