A reflective Puka Nacua wore a smile as he spoke to reporters Thursday at Los Angeles Rams OTAs, one day before his 25th birthday. It was the first time he addressed the media since a woman filed a civil lawsuit against him — citing gender violence, assault and battery, and negligence — and the two-time All-Pro wide receiver entered a holistic care facility to focus on his personal growth.
Nacua discussed how he’s been grateful for the support he’s received from the Rams organization, especially from his teammates.
“Something I feel like I’ve learned is it’s OK to ask for support,” Nacua told reporters, as captured by Nitecast Media’s Nick Hamilton.
He added: “… and then to recognize the platform that I have and being a professional football player and trying to use that for the betterment of myself and for those around me and the people that have supported me.”
Advertisement
Earlier this offseason, news broke that a woman was suing Nacua. She alleged that, on Dec. 31, 2025, he made an antisemitic statement and later bit her on the shoulder. Nacua’s attorney, Levi McCathern, said in a March statement that Nacua denies the allegations in the lawsuit “in the strongest possible terms,” as reported by ESPN.
Play 2026 Soccer Pick ‘Em with FOX One and make your picks for the world’s biggest soccer tournament
The 2023 fifth-round pick was asked about those allegations on Thursday.
“With it being an ongoing legal battle, out of respect for the other party involved, I don’t really have much to speak on,” he said. “But … a moment for me to learn from some of the situations I was putting myself in and then also having just an awareness of how I’m conducting myself in and out of this football field.”
Advertisement
The past six months, Nacua has had to navigate peaks and valleys. While he starred on the football field — recording a career-high 129 receptions and 1,715 receiving yards en route to earning first-team All-Pro recognition — his actions off the gridiron thrust him into the spotlight for all the wrong reasons.
Find NFL tickets on Gametime | NFL team schedules
Infamously, Nacua appeared on a livestream hosted by Adin Ross two days before a pivotal “Thursday Night Football” game against the NFC West rival Seattle Seahawks and agreed to perform an antisemitic touchdown celebration. Nacua wound up apologizing in a statement, saying that at the time of the stream, he had no idea the celebration suggested to him was “antisemitic in nature and perpetuated harmful stereotypes against Jewish people.”
In that same stream, Nacua called out NFL officials, accusing them of throwing flags to get on TV. Then, two days later, in the immediate aftermath of the Seahawks’ overtime victory against the Rams on “TNF,” Nacua took to social media to vent his frustration with the game’s officiating.
Advertisement
“Can you say i was wrong. Appreciate you stripes for your contribution. Lol” Nacua wrote in a post on X that he quickly deleted.
He later told reporters that he had a lack of awareness in that moment.
Nacua was honest Thursday about how he’s grappled with the responsibility that comes with the platform he possesses as one of the NFL’s top receivers. He talked about growing up in sports and his previous reluctance to seek assistance and express his feelings after a misstep.
“It’s crazy I’m getting ready to turn 25 tomorrow, but I have a young son, and to think of the things that I have the opportunity to share with him and the great things I’m able to accomplish and to enjoy those moments, but then also to teach him in some of the mistakes that I’ve made,” Nacua said, via Hamilton.
“There’s an opportunity for him to learn before some of those wrong decisions can be made.”
