A woman in California has accused Los Angeles Rams receiver Puka Nacua of biting her shoulder and making an antisemitic remark on New Year's Eve, prompting her to seek a temporary restraining order. Nacua's attorney called the claims false and accused the woman of blackmail. A judge declined the order pending a hearing on April 14.
The allegations stem from an evening on December 31, 2025, when Nacua and a group of friends, including the accuser, were at dinner. According to the woman's complaint, Nacua said, 'F--- the Jews,' before later biting her shoulder with enough force to leave a complete circular impression of his teeth. The complaint also notes he had bitten another woman's thumb earlier that night. A judge denied the temporary restraining order but scheduled a hearing for April 14, stating more information was needed at a properly noticed hearing. Nacua's attorney, Levi McCathern, issued a strong denial in a statement. 'Puka denies these allegations in the strongest possible terms,' McCathern said. 'We will be filing a defamation lawsuit and pursuing all available legal remedies in response to these false and damaging statements.' McCathern cited a sober witness who confirmed Nacua never made the antisemitic comment and described any biting as mere horseplay. He further alleged the accuser demanded millions of dollars to keep the claims private. 'This is not a legitimate claim -- it is blackmail,' McCathern said. The parties held a mediation conference in early March but reached no resolution. McCathern pointed to the timing of the filing -- nearly three months after the incident and soon after Seattle Seahawks receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba signed a four-year, $168 million contract, the largest ever for an NFL wide receiver -- as evidence of the claims' lack of credibility. Nacua remains on his rookie deal, set to expire after the 2026 season. This follows a December incident where Nacua performed a touchdown celebration later identified as having antisemitic origins; he apologized afterward.