US Football Player Accused Of Sexually Assaulting Two Flight Attendants: Case So Far

Brandon McManus, a former kicker for the Jacksonville Jaguars, has been accused of sexually assaulting two women during the team's trip to London last year. Two flight attendants have filed a lawsuit anonymously claiming that McManus touched them inappropriately on the team's September 2023 travel to London. Court documents obtained by The Associated Press allege that the two women, identified in the lawsuit as Jane Doe I and Jane Doe II. According to the lawsuit, McManus, 32, was reportedly grinding on them and rubbing himself on them during the trip, which had a party-like atmosphere, and during a turbulent moment, he attempted to kiss one while she was seated.

NFL player accused of sexual assault on London flight https://t.co/FZVwejSrh2

— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) May 28, 2024

Allegations Surface

Jane Doe I claims that McManus made two attempts to "grind" on her when she was serving the in-flight meals and then tried to kiss her while she was seated during turbulence on the aircraft, as reported by ESPN. Jane Doe II states that after confronting the NFL kicker for having inappropriately touched her, McManus "giggled and walked away." The lawsuit not only implicates McManus but also raises concerns about the Jaguars organization's supervision and failure to ensure a safe working environment for their staff. In addition, the lawsuit contends that McManus invited three additional flight attendants to the celebration and offered them monetary incentives of $100 notes in an attempt to get them to drink and join in his inappropriate conduct.

Legal Action

The lawsuit, which was filed Friday and made available on the Duval County Circuit Court’s public records database on Tuesday, names McManus and the team as defendants and seeks over $1 million in damages. They assert that the incident has caused them emotional distress and warrants accountability from both McManus and the Jaguars organization.

In response to the allegations, Brett R. Gallaway, McManus's lawyer, vehemently described the accusations as "absolutely fictitious and demonstrably false." "These are clearly bogus allegations that have been shown to be fabricated as part of an effort to malign and smear a skilled and well-respected NFL player. We plan to vigorously uphold Brandon's rights and integrity and clear his name by demonstrating what these claims truly are—an extortion attempt," Gallaway stated.

It's interesting to note that McManus left the Jaguars in March of this year to accept a 2.8 million pound contract with the Washington Commanders. However, the allegations have cast a shadow over his career and raised questions about his conduct off the field.

In light of this, Commanders have acknowledged the lawsuit and stated that the allegations made in this lawsuit are very serious. They intend to hold off on releasing further comments until they have spoken with Brandon's attorney. The outcome of the lawsuit remains uncertain as both sides prepare for a legal battle.

Meanwhile, the allegations have reignited discussions about the culture within professional sports organizations and the importance of accountability and responsibility in ensuring a safe and respectful environment for all employees.