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Wednesday night,July 17, 2013, I had a massage appointment with a masseuse named DJ at Massage Envy. Iโ€™ve been a member of Massage Envy for over 2 years but due to a fall last August in which I tore 4 of my hamstrings I have not been able to partake of massages for almost a year. I have been working out with a trainer and taking classes and felt that it was time to start using the 9 free massages that had accumulated at Massage Envy. I wanted a 2 hour massage and DJ was the only one available at the time and date that I wanted.

My massage was scheduled from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. DJ escorted me into the massage room and we talked about my background. I made sure that my request for no heat was followed, and it was. I explained that I had 2 severe episodes of Vertigo that were caused during a massage and felt that heat had been a contributing factor, and I asked him to take the blanket off of the massage table which he did. I also explained that I had knee replacements and told him about my hamstrings. He asked if there was any area I wanted him to focus on and I told him that my trainer had mentioned that my back was tight but that I wanted a full body massage. We also discussed pressure and I told him to use medium pressure but that I would let him know if it was too hard or too soft. I also requested that he do my head and ears last.

He left, I undressed and got on the table and he knocked and came in when I responded. I told him that I wasnโ€™t shy and if he needed to adjust the sheet in any way that he should. The massage was going normally, not the best that Iโ€™ve had, but not the worst either. I would describe it as decent. He worked a great deal on my back, sometimes going a little hard but nothing that I couldnโ€™t handle. He moved to my arms and hands; and then to my feet and legs. He also massaged my glutes which wasnโ€™t a problem for me because during my fall I had injured the place where the hamstrings are attached to the glutes on my left side.

Then it was time for me to flip over. He started at my feet and worked up my legs. He spent a lot of time on my thighs, especially my inner thighs which I didnโ€™t have a problem with because I tore my center and inside hamstrings. There were a few times when he brushed my private area but I didnโ€™t think anything of it because he was really getting the hamstrings and I was focused more on that than anything else. I was feeling very relaxed.

Then he moved up to my head and started to massage it and my ears, not the best head massage Iโ€™ve had but it sufficed. Then he slid his hands down my back, everything was very normal. Then he massaged my chest, again very normal, and then he went for my *** and not only did he massage my *** but he squeezed my nipples repeatedly. This was 1 hour and 45 minutes into what had been a decent massage and I was stunned. I didnโ€™t say anything and I didnโ€™t react in any way. I just waited for him to finish. I was thinking that maybe *** were a new area that I didnโ€™t know about. He finally finished at 7:50 p.m. He quietly told me that the massage was ending but that he did personal massages in homes and that he would be happy to come to my home if I liked. He said he would have a card for me with his phone number on it and the hours that worked at Massage Envy.

As I got dressed my head was whirling. I couldnโ€™t wrap my mind around what had just happened. Was it me? He just massaged my *** and squeezed my nipples. I was stunned. I got dressed, handed him a tip โ€“ yes, I actually tipped him โ€“ and I left. As I was walking towards the bus, I kept feeling really uneasy and once I got on the bus I started googling breast massage. I finally found a site where a woman had gone through a similar experience and the responses were all the same: NO SEXUAL CONTENT IS PART OF ANY MASSAGE and that she should report this conduct. The feelings that the woman had were the same as I was having. Was it my fault? Did I send him some kind of vibe? Why the *** did I tip him! Why the *** didnโ€™t I scream, or at the very least say something. I think I was just so relaxed and so shocked that I didnโ€™t know what to do.

When I got home I called Massage Envy and told them that I wanted to cancel my membership. And I told the young woman who answered the phone that they needed to let their masseuses know that *** and nipples should never be included in a massage. I told her that I had just come from there and the massage therapist had massaged my *** and pinched my nipples. She didnโ€™t seem concerned at all and told me that Iโ€™d have to call the Lincoln Park location because thatโ€™s where my membership had been initiated at. I called there and a young man named Sergio answered the phone. I told him I wanted to cancel my membership and why, he was very considerate, gently asked me a few questions, apologized for my trauma, said that someone would be calling me regarding the incident and that he would call over to the Streeterville location to see what had been done.

The Clinic Manager called me the next day and apologized. I sent her my statement along with a copy of the card that DJ had given me with is private phone number on it. She left a message for me that evening stating that they were taking what happened very seriously and that they had cancelled my membership and had credited my credit card for the the 2 hour massage. I'm still waiting to hear about the 7 massages I had banked with them but am not hopeful after everything I've read online.

Location: Chicago, Illinois

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Guest

Lighten up. He was professional for an hour and 45 minutes before anything happened.

Simply speak up next time, and I'm sure he would've apologized.

If a woman touches me sexually during a massage, and I'm not interested, I simply tell her to stop.

I don't play the victim.

He simply read you wrong, and you gave him no indication to stop. Mistakes happen.

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-1117876

He was not a professional. He was a criminal with a criminal background.

There is absolutely no justification for a professional massage therapist to attempt any kind of sexual contact with their client. IT IS AGAINST THE LAW. As I stated, he was arrested, and plead guilty.

Massage Envy Streeterville is now closed because of two other sexual assaults that happened after my sexual assault. Those victims chose to sue and won.

Guest

Don't take this the wrong way, but I think that deep down that you were enjoying it and that's why you didn't speak up and also tipped him. There's nothing wrong with it.

You were in a relaxing and comfortable setting, and even though that it was only supposed to be professional, a massage is very sensual when done right and can feel very erotica which in turn will tickle your every senses and nerves which will send you near near the edge.

It's normal. Don't be upset, just accept it.

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-1068923

Let me assure you I did not enjoy it and was in a state of shock when it was happening. I am old enough to be this young man's grandmother and I was disgusted.

I felt sick and couldn't stop shaking for hours. I want to make this very clear: I WAS ASSAULTED. It has been 2 years and I am still very affected by this event. I've always been a very liberal person but since this event whenever I see an African American man with a beard I get a chill and often find myself crossing the street.

I hate what this has done to me.

Two other people were assaulted there, a man and a woman, and they took Massage Envy to court and won and that is why they are closed now. In all three incidences the massage therapists had criminal records.

Guest

I want everyone to know that two lawsuits were brought against Massage Envy by two more customers who were also sexually assaulted after I was and the massage therapists who assaulted them also had criminal records like the massage therapist who assaulted me. Their suits were settled and the Streeterville Massage Envy is now closed.

I chose not to sue but did press charges against the massage therapist who went to jail and I agreed to a 3 year probation for him as long as his massage license was taken away so the he could not assault anyone else.

And for those of you who think it's easy to defend yourself in a situation like, I hope you never find out. You are supposed to be in a safe place and you are relaxed and the assault is totally unexpected.

I am a strong woman and was as angry with myself for not screaming or hitting him but when you are in the moment you can't believe it's happening, it's surreal. Stop judging and instead show some compassion.

Guest

What does *** stand for? ***? You could say buttocks.

Guest

I posted this immediately after it happened. I posted it because I wanted to find out if it happened to anyone else and to warn other women.

I was shocked when I went online and found so many incidences similar to mine.

You trust that you are in a safe place with a professional and that's a perfect set-up for a predator. The massage therapist was charged and plead guilty; he was given a 3 yearprobation and his massage therapy license was revoked.

Guest

As a therapist breast massage are done but only requested by client and there is a way but pinching nipples are never ok. In fact it's more of a few stretches but never without client consist written and verbally.

Guest

1)How on earth could you NOT say anything when someone is touching and pinching your chichis innappropriately?!! That's just plain weakl and du.mmb to not speak up for yourself!

That's how pigs like this keep doing it . . . when weaklings just lie there and take it!

2)You contradict yourself a few times. Just one example is where you say they credited your card for the massage, yet you say the massage was free as you had several free massages accumulate.

Guest

Its awful thst happened and Massage Envy has a Strict zero tolerance policy. Pressing charges sounds appropriate and Massage Envy will hopefully r efund your services!

Guest

Charges have been filed, he has been arrested and he does have a criminal record which Massage Envy was well aware of. I did not use his name, I used his initials and if you go online you will find that so many women are in a state of shock after an assault, which I was, and do ridiculous things like leave a tip.

This has affected me horribly and the reason I posted it online was to make other women aware of what happened and to find out if there are any other victims.

Obviously you are not a therapist because if you were you would know that talking about the abuse helps you heal. Thank you so much for being more concerned about the abuser than the victim.

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-693296

And we should believe that..because????

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-693296

Hey, i wanted to ask u was this man an older short statue hispanic guy? The reason i ask is becuz when i worked at childrens memorial hosp we had a woman who did chair massages n she hired a man that also worked at massage envy n he did massages for nurses.

He massaged me n became infatuated with me. We talked bout my career n he talkd about his wife at the first visit, after the 5th week (he massaged many from lots of units, and after few weeks he started commenting on my eyes or my perfume n once i was at my station n he left me a chocolate kiss with his card n phone number.

I thought this was inappropriate n spoke to the woman n she fired him but i know he also worked at massage envy. I hope its not the same guy.

Guest

Hello, I find this to be such defamation of someones character and to put his name in your rating is not only illegal since no charges have beem filed and the lรกst time I checked you are innocent until proven guilty. This young man has a right to earn a living.

As a woman its an insult to think someone your age doesnt know the difference between appropriate touch and inappropriate * never heard of any woman tipping their attacker especially when you are in an establishment with other employees female/ clients and so on. To me it sounds like you are the One acting inapropriate. I work with females that are victims of sexual assault and not One has published their details to anyone but the authorities and loved ones. Let alone on yelp and other web pages.

Seek help and leave it in the hands of the authorities. I hope you know that God knows the truth

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-693229

Uh, it sounds like this was a very traumatic incident. I am a massage therapist, and I take great lengths to make sure my clients feel safe and comfortable, something which this client obviously did not feel.

Shame on YOU for thinking this is a fake post. Sounds unfortunately believable to me.

To the poster--please know that not all massage therapists are like this. Your best bet would be to seek out a reputable solo practitioner who takes quality and ethics very seriously and who cannot hide under the shady umbrella of a massage mill such as Massage Envy.

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-708249

You read a random posting online, made by a random stranger, and you believe it without question? SMH.

By the way, poster flooted is as much entitled to believe what they want as you are. So, back up and back off.

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-693229

What is wrong with you?! She is warning potential victims of an obvious predator.

If you're an advocate in any way, shape, or form I'll kiss your *** and give you an hour to draw a crowd to watch. The h*all is wrong with you?!

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-850022

Hey bubba, what is wrong with you? Threatening violence against someone you don't know, just because they have a different opinion than you? Yeah, you sound like a hotbed of mental health...NOT!

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