Justin Tucker continued to maintain his innocence as the spotlight remained on his alleged sexual misconduct this week after Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta addressed the matter at the NFL combine Tuesday.
In a statement to Outkick on Wednesday, Tucker, 35, decried the allegations as “shocking and heart-breaking” while maintaining that they are “simply not true.”
Tucker’s wife, Amanda, also made her first public comments on the situation, telling the outlet she supported her husband.
“The false allegations against Justin have caused so much hurt to our family. I believe my husband, and I love and support him fully,” she said.
Tucker was accused of sexual misconduct by 16 female massage therapists from eight different spas and wellness centers in Baltimore, the Baltimore Banner first reported.
The Banner initially reported six massage therapists had come forward with allegations before another 10 women made similar allegations, which prompted the NFL to launch an investigation.
Tucker told Outkick that he “did not act inappropriately at any point before, during, or after a professional bodywork treatment session, nor have I ever been told I am unwelcome at any massage therapy provider.”
“These claims are simply not true. Throughout the last four weeks, I have spent countless hours replaying every interaction I have had with bodywork professionals over the last thirteen years,” Tucker continued in his statement.
“I can assure whoever is reading this that I have never intended to disrespect anyone, cross any boundary, or make anyone feel uncomfortable in any way whatsoever. It devastates me to know that anyone I have worked with would not have felt respected and valued as a professional, but more importantly as a person, and to anyone who has felt otherwise, I am sorry. I want you to know I am committed to ensuring that everyone I interact with continues to feel that I respect them and care about them as a human being.”
Allegations levied against Tucker include that he exposed his genitals, brushed two massage therapists with his exposed penis and left behind what was believed to be ejaculate on a massage table following several treatments.
In his new statement, Tucker said he recognized the “importance of receiving consistent professional bodywork” and said he and his wife “count so many of those professionals as our friends.”
Tucker’s lawyer, Joe Terry of Williams & Connolly’s First Amendment practice group, also denied the allegations to Outkick.
Terry pushed back on some of the claims by pointing to sworn declarations from the previous owners of the Ritz-Carlton spa that the lawyer said dispute some of the accusations Tucker is facing.
Terry also cited a photo of Tucker that Studio 921 — one of the two salons that allegedly banned the Ravens kicker — used for promotional purposes on Tripadvisor up until its closure in 2023.
Both DeCosta and Ravens head coach John Harbaugh addressed the situation for the first time during the combine.
DeCosta told reporters that the “allegations are serious and concerning” as is the amount.
Harbaugh added that the Ravens are looking into kickers, but that would be something the organization would be doing even if the allegations had never surfaced.
“I’d say the kicker position would have been a priority no matter what because, you know, Justin’s our kicker. We love him. I always expected him to keep going forever. But nobody goes forever,” Harbaugh said.
NFL investigators were in Baltimore last week and reportedly interviewed several accusers.