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In a statement released on Monday, the parents of Buffalo Bills' punter Matt Araiza, respond to the allegations being made against their son in a civil lawsuit files last Thursday. The lawsuit alleges that Matt and his then SDSU teammates, (Zavier Leonard and Nowlin Ewaliko) gang raped a minor in 2021.
On Friday of last week, Araiza said, "The facts of the incident are not what they are portrayed in the lawsuit or in the press. I look forward to quickly setting the record straight."
On Saturday, the Buffalo Bills released Araiza from the team in response to the allegations, stating "This is bigger than football," Bills general manager Brandon Beane. "Let's just step back and [let Araiza] go handle this. That's what we thought was most important."
The situation has created a media firestorm, which has escalated to threats not only against Matt, but his entrire family. Here is the statement released by his parents.
Statement from Mr. and Mrs. Araiza, parents of Matt Araiza
The rule of law is innocent until proven guilty. That is not our experience. There has been war waged on our son. He has been tried and convicted in the media based on information released solely from the alleged victim and her attorney, much of it through social media. People have taken his information as factual, when it is not.
We do not wish this experience on anyone, but question why our son is the only one receiving this kind of treatment by social media and national news media. The vitriol has been on him alone.
He has been extorted, discriminated against, harassed and the subject of multiple and continuous threats of violence and death. 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.
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.