Los Angeles Chargers defensive tackle Sebastian Joseph-Day accused a male Transportation Security Administration officer of sexually assaulting him before a recent flight out of Southern California.
The incident happened Friday morning at John Wayne Airport, in Orange County, according to Joseph-Day, 28, who won a 2022 Super Bowl ring with the Los Angeles Rams.
“I really just got sexually assaulted by TSA,” Joseph-Day told followers on Twitter. “After I asked the gentleman to please stop BC I’m uncomfortable and I feel that this part of the check is unnecessary (After he felt what was needed). Then they told me I was the problem after 3 TSA agents swarmed me.”
Joseph-Day didn’t go into any greater detail, and he couldn’t immediately be reached for comment Monday.
“I’m all for people doing their job well. But it was extremely unnecessary and dehumanizing,” he added in his statement on Twitter.
“I’m not sharing this on Twitter for sympathy. I’m sharing this so this group of gentleman and staff aren’t allowed to do this ever again to another human being,” Joseph-Day wrote.
The TSA is speaking with the officers involved and reviewing security video of the incident, an administration official said Monday.
“TSA is aware of allegations made by a traveler who was screened by TSA officers at John Wayne Airport Friday morning. We are looking into the matter to determine if our procedures were followed and whether any corrective action needs to be taken,” a TSA statement said.
“TSA remains committed to treating every traveler with dignity and respect while carrying out our security screening responsibilities.”
Joseph-Day also tagged the airport, the city of Irvine, Orange County and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department in his statement.
An airport representative declined to comment Monday beyond the TSA statement, and officials with the city, county and sheriff’s department could not immediately be reached.
Joseph-Day, a Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, native, played football at Rutgers before he was drafted by the Rams.
His last game with the Rams was on Feb. 13, when they defeated the Cincinnati Bengals, 23-20, in the Super Bowl.
He signed a free -agent contract with the Chargers a month after the Super Bowl and played in 16 games for them last season.
