Advertisement

Report: Massage Envy mishandled sexual assault claims, women say

 
Published Nov. 27, 2017

A Buzzfeed investigation revealed how more than 180 women have reported being sexually assaulted by massage therapists at national franchise Massage Envy.

On Sunday, Buzzfeed published the investigation that detailed cases of women from across the country who said they were sexually assaulted when they went in to one of the franchise's locations for massage sessions. The investigation also showed how policies were set in place to protect the company from liability.

In one case, a massage therapist accused of misconduct was transferred to another location, only to have other women later report the same individual.

The company formed in 2002 and is one of the largest chains of massage franchises. It applied a monthly membership model to customers.

Last year, a Winter Park woman sued a franchise in Winter Park after she accused the massage therapist of performing a sex act. The woman stated in a deposition that she had trusted the company because it was reputable and she had been there before.

"I mean, you know, they're kind of like Publix," she said, "You see them everywhere."

According to its Facebook page, the franchise has more than 1,150 locations in 49 states. In Pinellas and Hillsborough counties, there are 11 Massage Envy locations, according to the company's website.