Sports

Sports World Reacts To Puka Nacua Checking Into Rehab After He Spent Recent Months Terrorizing Greater Los Angeles Area

#Puka Nacua
by
puka nacua at a hockey game

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images


After spending much of the offseason raising concerns with his behavior and apparent substance abuse, Los Angeles Rams Pro Bowl wide receiver Puka Nacua was confirmed this week to have checked into a rehab facility to get help. Nacua has been in rehab for a few weeks now.

The Rams’ star pass catcher checked into a luxury treatment center in Malibu in early March that specializes in drug and alcohol addiction, chronic pain, and mental health issues.

According to his attorney Levi McCathern, Nacua is focused on “personal growth” and is “deeply grateful for the support he has received from his family, friends, Coach McVay, and his teammates.”

Sports fans react to reports that Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua has checked into a luxury rehab facility

Reactions to Nacua checking into rehab were pretty widespread, as there were just as many jokes as there were messages of support. Given the recent news surrounding Tiger Woods, a few viral tweets also made the connection between the two.

McCarthen adds that Nacua has been in the rehab facility for a few weeks, prior to the publication of allegations from Madison Atiabi, who claimed that Nacua made an antisemitic remark at a group dinner in Los Angeles before later her shoulder hard enough to break the skin and leave visible marks.

Puka’s lawyer, however, denied the antisemitic claim and described the bite as “horseplay,” saying “the whole claim is nothing more than a shakedown attempt.”

The alleged incident with Atiabi was not Nacua’s first problematic moment of the offseason, however. Towards the end of the 2025 regular seaso, he drew widespread backlash after performing a hand-rubbing gesture — known as a “Jewish emote” on social media — during a YouTube livestream with streamers Adin Ross and N3on that many viewers interpreted as perpetuating an antisemitic stereotype.

Then, during Super Bowl week in February, he was photographed stumbling and dancing in the street in San Francisco. There was also a massively viral video of him rambling and itching his nose while on a race track. Hopefully the Pro Bowler is now receiving the help he clearly needs.

Eric Italiano BroBIble avatar
Eric Italiano is a NYC-based writer who spearheads BroBible's Pop Culture and Entertainment content. He covers topics such as Movies, TV, and Video Games, while interviewing actors, directors, and writers.
Tags
Want more news like this? Add BroBible as a preferred source on Google!
Preferred sources are prioritized in Top Stories, ensuring you never miss any of our editorial team's hard work.
Google News Add as preferred source on Google