The parents of former San Diego State Aztec football player Matt Araiza have issued a statement about the allegations in a lawsuit filed against him,
In the suit, a 17-year-old girl accuses Ariaza and two other former Aztec players of raping her at an off-campus party in October of 2021.
On Monday, his parents issued this statement:
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.
Araiza, who was the top punter in college football last year, was drafted by the Buffalo Bills, who released him this last weekend.
(Photo Getty Images)
Photo: Getty Images