Los Angeles (United States) (AFP) – Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua has checked himself into rehab, his attorney said Wednesday. The Rams star “voluntarily entered a private facility to focus on his health, personal growth, and overall development,” lawyer Levi McCathern told AFP in a statement.
Nacua topped the NFL with 129 receptions last season, adding a total of 1,715 yards, as the Rams reached the NFC Championship game before losing to eventual Super Bowl winners Seattle. But the 24-year-old has been beset by recent off-field controversy. In December, Nacua apologized after making an antisemitic gesture during a livestream appearance. Nacua was encouraged to perform the gesture — rubbing his hands together — as a potential new touchdown celebration while appearing with internet streamers Adin Ross and N3on. The 24-year-old said he had not been aware that his gesture — a common stereotype that depicts Jewish people as greedy — was antisemitic.
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Last month, a Jewish woman filed a lawsuit against Nacua alleging that he made an antisemitic statement and later bit her during a night out in Los Angeles on New Year’s Eve. His lawyer said Nacua denies the allegation of antisemitism, calling it a “blatant lie,” and describing the bite as “horseplay.” Nacua’s decision to enter rehab was prior to and unrelated to the lawsuit, said the attorney. McCathern did not state the precise reason for Nacua entering rehab, but the center in question helps patients with issues including drug and alcohol addiction, chronic pain and mental health conditions, the California Post reported.
“Puka takes responsibility for his well-being and increasing his performance during the off-season,” said McCathern’s statement. “He is committed to using this time constructively so that he can return in the best possible position — both personally and professionally — to continue contributing to his team and the game he loves,” it said. McCathern added: “It is unfortunate that a trivial lawsuit has drawn attention to Puka during a time when he is focused on becoming a better overall person.”
© 2024 AFP
