Puka Nacua was on track to become the NFL’s next $150 million receiver until his offseason went sideways, with new abuse allegations surfacing as the league reviews his conduct.
Nacua’s ex-girlfriend and the mother of his child, Hallie Aiono, has now accused him of abuse and neglect during their four-year relationship.
Aiono made the claims in a TikTok video and then took it down.
NFL Network reporter Jamie Erdahl interviews Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (17) after the game against the Arizona Cardinals in the second half at SoFi Stadium on Dec. 28, 2024 in Inglewood, Calif. (Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)
“I went from loving somebody so deeply for four years, I felt it in my bones, to experiencing extreme betrayal, abuse, complete neglect from them, in what felt like it happened almost overnight,” Aiono said.
She said the private turmoil had taken a greater toll than their public disputes.
“A lot of the things that were public affected my mental health,” Aiono said.
“But honestly, the things that were happening in private are what completely crushed me and altered my brain chemistry. Those parts, what people never saw or knew of, are what broke me.”
The latest allegations add to a disastrous offseason for the fourth-year receiver, who led the NFL with 129 catches and added 1,715 receiving yards last season.
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Puka Nacua of the Los Angeles Rams celebrates after a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Indianapolis Colts at SoFi Stadium on Sept. 28, 2025 in Inglewood, Calif. (Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
In March, Nacua was named in a civil lawsuit filed by Madison Atiabi following a chaotic New Year’s Eve party.
The filing accused him of biting Atiabi’s shoulder, biting another woman’s thumb and directing an anti-Semitic slur at a guest. Nacua’s attorney, Levi McCathern, strongly denied the allegations and characterized the legal action as an extortion attempt.
Puka Nacua of the Los Angeles Rams reacts during the second quarter against the Indianapolis Colts at SoFi Stadium on Sept. 28, 2025 in Inglewood, Calif. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
“Puka denies these allegations in the strongest possible terms,” McCathern said. “Our office was contacted with demands of millions of dollars in exchange for not publicizing these allegations. This is not a legitimate claim. It is blackmail.”
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McCathern also denied the alleged slur, saying a “completely sober witness” had stated that Nacua never made the comments. He characterized the alleged biting incidents as “horseplay.”
Nacua voluntarily entered a Los Angeles rehabilitation facility in early March, before Atiabi’s allegations became public. His attorney said the program was intended to help him focus on his personal growth.
That off-field baggage is now bleeding into Nacua’s contract talks.
Nacua recently hired WIN Sports Group to negotiate a new deal, but the Rams reportedly do not expect to extend him before the season. The team appears prepared to wait for more clarity in his legal situation and evidence of sustained personal growth before handing him top-of-market money.
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The NFL is also reviewing Nacua’s conduct under its Personal Conduct Policy , which allows the league to discipline players even when criminal charges are not filed.
Nacua’s production gives him leverage, but unresolved allegations and a potential suspension make a $150 million commitment a much tougher sell for the Rams.
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