Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson is being sued after he didn’t show up to a May youth football camp that he agreed to host.
In a federal lawsuit, FlexWork Sports Management alleges Johnson’s no-show incurred “significant costs” and created a “public relations nightmare” for the Connecticut-based company that runs youth football camps nationwide.
Johnson was scheduled to host FlexWork’s first Pittsburgh camp May 22 at Cupples Stadium on the South Side. The camp promised a “fun, high-energy, positive environment” that would include lectures, skill stations, contests, awards and autographed photos and T-shirts, its description says.
In the suit, FlexWork says 230 players, ages 6 to 16, enrolled.
The night before camp, Johnson’s flight from Sarasota, Fla., to Pittsburgh was canceled, the suit says. FlexWork alleges Johnson was rebooked on another flight, but he “did not want to wait for his new flight time so he left the airport.”
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FlexWork says it did not learn Johnson’s flight had been canceled until the wide receiver’s agent texted FlexWork leaders 13 minutes before camp was scheduled to begin.
The agent also told FlexWork that Johnson “obviously already agreed to do a free make-up camp and give every camper a pair of signed Nike gloves that he tries on,” the suit says.
After the no-show, the company claims it refunded $36,099.33 to campers and provided them with credits to attend a FlexWork camp at no cost in the future.
“Given that this was the first camp FlexWork was hosting in the Pittsburgh area, FlexWork was required to control the damage caused by Johnson’s no-show,” the suit reads.
The company also says it spent more than $14,000 in preparation for the camp.
FlexWork seeks damages in an amount to be determined.
Always two sides to a story lol…
— Diontae Johnson (@Juiceup__3) August 10, 2022
Johnson signed a three-year, $39.5 million contract last Thursday. He had been attending training camp practices but didn’t participate in team drills, as part of a “hold-in” while awaiting a contract extension. Although he hadn’t been practicing, Johnson attended team meetings, participated in individual drills and stayed after practice to get in extra work.
On Wednesday afternoon, Johnson tweeted “Always two sides to a story lol…” without elaborating.
Johnson is coming off the most productive of his three NFL seasons. In 2021, he totaled 107 catches for 1,161 yards and eight touchdowns. He tied for the fifth-most catches in the NFL and had the 10th-most yards.
