Puka Nacua addressed the media Thursday at Los Angeles Rams OTAs with a smile on his face – one day before his 25th birthday. It was his first time speaking publicly since a woman filed a civil lawsuit against him alleging gender violence, assault and battery, and negligence, and since he entered a holistic care facility to focus on his personal well-being.
The two-time All-Pro wide receiver was candid about the support he’s received from the organization and his teammates throughout everything.
“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. “… 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.”
The lawsuit, which surfaced earlier this offseason, claims that on Dec. 31, 2025, Nacua made an antisemitic statement and later bit the woman on her shoulder. His attorney, Levi McCathern, issued a statement in March saying Nacua denies the allegations “in the strongest possible terms,” as reported by ESPN.
Asked directly about the allegations Thursday, Nacua kept it brief.
“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.”
A Season of Highs and Lows
The last six months have been a real rollercoaster for Nacua. On the field, he put together the best season of his career – 129 receptions and 1,715 receiving yards – earning first-team All-Pro honors. Off it, a string of controversies kept pulling him into the news for the wrong reasons.
It started with a livestream on Adin Ross’s channel, two days before a “Thursday Night Football” matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. During the stream, Nacua agreed to perform an antisemitic touchdown celebration. He later apologized in a statement, saying he had no idea the celebration that was suggested to him “was antisemitic in nature and perpetuated harmful stereotypes against Jewish people.”
That same stream also saw him call out NFL officials, accusing them of throwing flags to get on TV.
Then the Seahawks beat the Rams in overtime on “TNF,” and Nacua took to X to vent about the officiating – posting “Can you say i was wrong. Appreciate you stripes for your contribution. Lol” – before quickly deleting it. He later told reporters he simply lacked awareness in that moment.
Thursday felt different. Nacua was honest about wrestling with what it means to carry the kind of platform he has as one of the NFL’s top receivers. He talked about growing up in sports, about how he used to resist asking for help or opening up after making a mistake.
And then he brought it back to something personal.
“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.”
Nacua was a fifth-round pick in 2023 – not exactly the profile of a player who becomes a centerpiece of an NFL offense within two years. But that’s exactly what he’s become in Los Angeles, which is part of why everything that’s happened off the field this year has drawn so much attention.