Pittsburgh Steelers Star Sued After He Allegedly Ditched Children at His Own Youth Football Camp

A star receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers faces a lawsuit over his failure to show up to a youth football camp he was supposed to host.

According to a report Tuesday by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Diontae Johnson worked with FlexWork Sports Management LLC to organize a youth football camp that was to take place on May 22 at Cupples Stadium in the city.

The camp cost $125 per person for the base package, which would have included a photo with the Pro Bowl receiver, the report said.

Parents also could pay more for higher-tier packages that would have allowed even more access to Johnson for their child, the Post-Gazette reported.

In a lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, FlexWork alleged Maxx Lepselter, an agent for Johnson, contacted camp organizers at 9:47 a.m on May 22, just 13 minutes before the camp was supposed to start, the report said. He informed them that Johnson’s flight was canceled the night before but he planned to be there later in the day.

The court filing said Lepselter subsequently told organizers Johnson left the airport because he did not feel like waiting for his second flight.

They also discussed the possibility of a free camp with Johnson at a later date where he would sign gloves to make up for his no-show at the May 22 camp, the filing said.

If FlexWork’s allegations are true, Johnson’s actions deserve criticism.