Rams wide receiver Puka Nakua has denied a woman’s claim that he made anti-Semitic remarks, the attorney for Rams wide receiver says.
Madison Atiyabi made the claim in an application for a temporary restraining order obtained by The Times this week.
Atiyabi claimed in a court filing that during a New Year’s Eve mass dinner, Nakua spoke “to all Jews… in a way that was audible to (him) and others at the table.” Atiyabi said Nakua’s “obscene, threatening, violent and harassing conduct” increased as the evening progressed.
After the dinner, Atiyabi said she was in a car with Nakuya and others when the Rams star bit her on her left shoulder, leaving a large bite mark, which was photographed. Nakua is also accused of biting Atiyabi’s friend’s thumb “with such force that she screamed in pain,” according to the filing.
Necua’s attorney, Levi McCathern, said he has spoken to witnesses – including other Rams players present – who did not hear Necua make anti-Semitic statements. He also said that the sting was innocent “horseplay”.
“PUKA denies these allegations in the strongest terms possible,” McCathern said. “We will pursue all available legal remedies in response to these false and damaging statements.”
The request for a temporary restraining order was denied by a Los Angeles Superior Court judge and a hearing is scheduled for April 14.
“Millions of dollars were demanded from our office in exchange for not publicizing these allegations,” McCathern told TMZ. “This is not a legitimate claim – this is blackmail.”
In December, Nakua apologized for an anti-Semitic gesture he made while appearing on a livestream with Aiden Ross and N3on.
The livestreamers discussed whether Nekua would get in trouble if he made a move that referenced offensive stereotypes about Jewish people, without telling Nekua. Ross is Jewish, but he often shows off this move in his livestreams.
He suggested to Nekua, who led the nfl With 129 receptions and was named All-Pro in 2025, point to the next time he scored a touchdown.
“At the time, I had no idea that this act was anti-Semitic in nature and perpetuated hateful stereotypes against the Jewish people,” Nakua wrote in his post. “I deeply apologize to anyone who was offended by my actions as I do not stand for any form of racism, bigotry or hatred of another group of people.”
The Rams distanced themselves from Necua’s gesture in a statement.
“There is no place in this world for anti-Semitism, as well as other forms of prejudice or hostility toward the Jewish people and people of any religion, ethnicity or race,” the team said.
