Days after punter Matt Araiza was released by the Buffalo Bills, his parents released a statement regarding the accusation that he was involved in a gang rape while at San Diego State.
The statement was received by KUSI in San Diego. It spoke out against the threats that Araiza and his family have received following the filing of the civil suit against him.
“He has been extorted, discriminated against, harassed and the subject of multiple and continuous threats of violence and death,” the statement, which was released on Twitter by KUSI’s Brandon Stone said. “He has been released from his job and our entire family continues to receive horrific threats of violence and death. We have all been canceled. Every member of our family.”
Araiza’s parents also spoke out about how the charges leveled against him have been taken as fact and that he’s already lost in the court of public opinion.
“Salacious rumors grew as fact. There are multiple witness reports to deny the claims that are made against him. The legal system is designed to find the facts and make decisions. They should be allowed to do that.”
Our newsroom just received this statement from the family of Matt Araiza. pic.twitter.com/YgjAGaPlNF
— Brandon Stone (@BStoneKUSI) August 29, 2022
The pleas for sympathy fell largely on deaf ears in the NFL world.
The man admitted to statutory months ago, these people are disgusting https://t.co/RA0NYuN4DQ
— Julia Poe (@byjuliapoe) August 30, 2022
https://twitter.com/BenRossTweets/status/1564404909121814528
“We have all been cancelled” ……..bye https://t.co/UNI3Io0vNs
— Chris Williamson (@CWilliamson44) August 30, 2022
https://twitter.com/A_G_Haubner/status/1564400950940352512
https://twitter.com/russbengtson/status/1564399937546342400
Really, really bad look https://t.co/VKWXdbE1GC
— sarah kelly (@thesarahkelly) August 29, 2022
Yeah I get standing up for your kid but he’s 22 and this definitely ain’t it. https://t.co/fBvNf1uVfv
— Brenna Greene (@BrennaGreene_) August 30, 2022
Certainly, it’s understandable that his family would be upset with how things have been handled. Araiza has already faced serious consequences and hasn’t been convicted of — or even legally charged with — any crime. On the other hand, the crime that he’s being accused of in the civil suit is incredibly serious and should be treated as such.
The seriousness of the alleged crime makes it hard to handle the situation in a delicate manner.
[Brandon Stone on Twitter]
