Kamal Ghorui
The NFL off-season just got incredibly messy. Los Angeles Rams star receiver Puka Nacua is currently locked in a high-stakes legal battle that feels more like a reality TV plot than a courtroom drama. What started as a wild New Year’s Eve night in Century City has spiraled into a lawsuit involving allegations of assault, antisemitic slurs, and a “shakedown” for millions.
Viral video complicates Puka Nacua case as defense calls lawsuit a “Shakedown”
The lawsuit, filed by Madison Atiabi on March 24, 2026, paints a dark picture of the Pro Bowler. According to the filings, the night began with Nacua allegedly shouting, “f*** all the Jews” during a group dinner. The situation reportedly turned physical later in a Sprinter van, where Atiabi claims Nacua bit her friend’s thumb before sinking his teeth into Atiabi’s shoulder with “massive force.”The story took a wild turn when TMZ released footage from later that night. In the video, Nacua appears to be completely passed out and unresponsive in the back of the van. While he’s unconscious, the video shows Atiabi and her friends dancing, laughing, and twerking right next to him.Even the fan came to Puka’s defense, claiming that the accuser doesn’t even look like they were bitten or bothered by the player.Nacua’s high-powered attorney, Levi McCathern, is using this footage as his “smoking gun.” The defense argues that Atiabi’s behavior in the video, partying and appearing in high spirits is totally inconsistent with someone who had just been violently assaulted or subjected to hate speech.Interestingly, the defense isn’t denying that a bite happened. Instead, they’re calling it “mutual horseplay” that didn’t even break the skin. McCathern has gone on the offensive, labeling the lawsuit a “shakedown” and claiming Atiabi demanded a massive payout in private mediation before going public.So far, the court seems skeptical of the immediate danger. A Los Angeles judge has already denied Atiabi’s request for a temporary restraining order, citing a lack of evidence for an emergency. However, the real showdown happens at the formal hearing on April 14, 2026.For Nacua, the stakes couldn’t be higher. He’s coming off a historic 2025 season and was reportedly closing in on a record-breaking contract extension. Now, his reputation and his wallet are on the line as the NFL world waits to see if this was a drunken night of “horseplay” or something much more sinister.
