Los Angeles Chargers member Sebastian Joseph-Day shared his traumatic experience at John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, Calif., on Sunday.
The 28-year-old defensive end claimed on Twitter that he was sexually assaulted by transportation security officers during a full search.
“I was sexually assaulted at John Wayne Airport after telling officers that I was not comfortable with this step of the search and that it was not necessary,” the Pennsylvania native said.
“I am in favor of people who do their job well. But it was an extremely unnecessary and dehumanizing experience. I travel a lot, whether for work or for personal reasons, and I had never experienced this.
Joseph-Day added that the California airport authority then made life as difficult for him as possible while he tried to press charges against the offending officers.
“I’m not sharing this on Twitter to get everyone’s sympathy,” he concluded. I do this so that these individuals can never do this to another human being again.”
Joseph-Day is coming off the first season of a three-year deal with the Chargers. He’s had two quarterback sacks and forced a turnover in 16 games in 2022.
He had spent the first three campaigns of his career with the other organization in the City of Angels, the Rams.