More than women have accused massage therapists of sexual assault at a popular chain that has locations throughout Virginia, according to a report. Among the victims speaking publicly are a Washington, D.
BuzzFeed cited court records, police reports and other complaints from women who reported being groped and penetrated by massage therapists at Massage Envy locations across the country.
The company ignored the allegations, according to the report. Two DC women reported to police in September that a Tenleytown Massage Envy massage therapist sexually assaulted them. Tara Woodley, a married woman in her 20s, said Habtamu Gebreslassie, 24, of Silver Spring, Maryland, performed oral sex on her against her will at the Tenleytown facility.
She sued, stating Gebreselassie assaulted her in the final 15 minutes of her minute massage on Sept. Her therapist placed his hand over mouth as he inserted his fingers into her vagina, according to the report. Dick immediately reported it to the Massage Envy desk clerk, who insisted calling the police would not be necessary because it would be handled internally.
Experts also told the website franchises should prominently display their reporting policies and hire specially trained consultants if they're accused of a crime. But according to the report, in places where it is not required by law, Massage Envy "does not compel its franchisees to notify law enforcement," even in cases of rape. In an email to BuzzFeed, a lawyer for Massage Envy said: "We hold franchise owners accountable to our policies and, when we say nothing is more important to us than treating clients with respect and giving them a safe, professional experience, we mean it.
