Update: The accuser’s lawyer responded by denying Darby’s claims in a response to Buzzfeed. “No one else was in the car besides Mr. Winston and if anyone is ‘confused’, it isn’t the Uber driver.”
Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Ronald Darby has released a statement claiming Jameis Winston is innocent of allegations that he groped an Uber driver last year. Darby says he and Winston were in the backseat of the car at the time when the driver alleged that a passenger in the front seat groped her.
Winston has denied the accusation, which surfaced this week, claiming the driver was confused about the number of people in the car and where he was sitting. Darby’s statement, given to Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer, supports that version of events.
I felt the need to come forward and clarify some inaccurate accounts of the evening of March 13, 2016 when myself, a friend and Jameis Winston took an Uber ride in Arizona. There were three of us in the car, not just one as has been reported. Myself and Jameis were in the backseat. I am confident that nothing inappropriate in nature happened in the car that evening and Jameis did not have any physical contact with the Uber driver. The accusations are just not true.
Who, exactly, was in the front seat of the car according to this version of events is unknown.
Five years ago, Darby was also a witness for Jameis Winston when he was accused of rape. Darby and Winston were both playing at Florida State University at the time. Winston and his accuser settled a civil suit resulting from that accusation in December of last year.