Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua is weighing legal action after denying a series of allegations that surfaced this week, including claims of antisemitic remarks and inappropriate conduct during a New Year’s Eve outing. Through his attorney, Nacua has pushed back forcefully, calling the accusations “false and damaging” and signaling plans to pursue a defamation lawsuit.
The claims stem from a complaint filed by a woman in Los Angeles, who alleged that Nacua made an antisemitic comment during a group dinner before engaging in escalating behavior later that evening. She accused the 24-year-old of placing his head in her lap and biting her inside a sprinter van, leaving a visible mark.
In a statement to USA TODAY Sports, attorney Levi G. McCathern II rejected the allegations outright. “Puka denies these allegations in the strongest possible terms,” he said, adding that his client intends to “pursue all available legal remedies” in response.
McCathern also emphasized that the case “is not sexual in nature” and “does not involve any allegation of domestic violence,” while further asserting that “it also doesn’t involve any elements of antisemitism.”
He claimed a witness present at the dinner contradicted the accusation and described the alleged biting incident as “horseplay” that resulted in only a temporary mark.
The attorney additionally alleged that the accuser requested “millions of dollars” in exchange for keeping the claims private, characterizing the situation as an attempted financial shakedown.
The woman, however, has maintained that the conduct was part of a pattern of “rude or vulgar, threatening, violent, and harassing” behavior over the course of the evening.
The situation arrives just months after Nacua faced criticism for referencing an antisemitic trope during a livestream, for which he later apologized, saying he was unaware of its meaning at the time. The Rams organization declined to comment when contacted.
The woman filed a police report and sought a temporary restraining order, though that request was ultimately denied. A hearing in the case is scheduled for April 14.
Nacua, one of the NFL’s rising stars, has quickly become a key figure for the Rams since entering the league. His breakout performances and growing profile have positioned him as a central piece of the franchise’s future, especially as he approaches the final year of his rookie contract and becomes eligible for a potential extension this offseason.
