Warning: This article includes discussions of sexual assault. I still can't believe this happened to me I've been getting massages my entire life, and I definitely didn't know that places like this even existed. But, I learned the hard way! So, let's talk about that time I accidentally booked a "happy endings massage" Google it if you don't know , and the red flags so you can avoid this happening to you! If you prefer visuals, check out my TikTok about the experience. I called to book my massage at 9pmβ¦and they were open.
Granted, I booked my appointment for 10AM, but the vast majority of legitimate massage businesses don't work late every night of the week. Red Flag 2: They don't give you a waiver or ask for your information. When I walked into my appointment, they immediately walked me back.
I was really surprised by this, because if a massage therapist hurts you during the massage, they could be liable. They also didn't ask what was bothering me pain-wise, if I had previous health conditions, etc. Red Flag 3: They don't have licenses displayed. Some places may just not display them, but you can always ask for their license number. I didn't see any on the walls. There were only curtains, no doors.
Each room had two beds, but fortunately I was alone. I heard a male walking by my curtain mid-massage. The entire place felt dark and, honestly, illegal. It wasn't relaxing, it just felt icky. Listening to your instinct is key. I've also be warned by places with neon signs or large notices saying they don't do sexual massages.. Red Flag 5 the obvious one : They cross lines or touch you inappropriately. The weirdest and most triggering part of the massage was when the masseuse removed my underwear - quickly and without permission.
Any legitimate massage therapist knows to respect the boundaries of the clothing you decide to leave on. However, this masseuse ripped off my underwear and proceeded to sit on my thighs. I was extremely uncomfortable. Honestly, I didn't gain the confidence to say "no" until she walked out to go to the restroom. It was humiliating and degrading. Only afterwards could I laugh about all the red flags I missed. It's definitely a lesson learned.
