Scandal-plagued NFL star Puka Nacua has revealed his struggles with alcohol dependency and his fears about fatherhood in a tell-all interview with Netflix. Nacua, 25, discussed the "darkest times" of his life, including legal troubles that emerged during a tumultuous offseason. He faces accusations of biting a woman and making an antisemitic statement during a New Year's Eve incident. Following these events, Nacua entered a rehabilitation facility.
In his conversation with Netflix's Elle Duncan, Nacua stated, "I learned that I am very avoidant of conflict and avoidant of the things that were causing me stress." He attributed this stress to the lifestyle changes that accompanied his rise to stardom, the pressure of high-level performance, and the recent addition of his son to his life.
"The change in lifestyle that came up to me, becoming a public figure... the stress of performing at a high level," Nacua explained. "And then I recently became a father - my son is 10 months old."
Nacua elaborated that he had been reluctant to seek help, even with the challenges of co-parenting. He described isolating himself and feeling the burden of his issues solely on his shoulders. "I was never one to share my fears and my worries," he said. "I was always finding different ways to escape from that tension and that stress. Alcohol was definitely a thing for me. Just, kind of, drowning myself so that the issues and the stress that I was feeling never had the opportunity to be addressed."
He stated that his rehabilitation allowed for "open and honest conversations." Nacua believes he is now on a path to becoming a father his son can be proud of. "These are the darkest times that I've had in my life. And as my son gets older, I can share with him the things I've learned from the mistakes I've made. I want to be able to go to any environment that he might be a part of and have him say: 'This is my dad.'"
Nacua's ex-girlfriend, Hallie Aiono, has previously spoken about experiencing "extreme betrayal, abuse and complete neglect" after she sought professional help. Nacua and Aiono began dating in 2021. Their son, Kingston, was born in December 2025. Aiono had filed a court petition in June 2025 to establish paternity, seek full physical custody, and request joint legal custody with visitation rights.
Nacua, a two-time Pro Bowl selection, is entering his fourth season with the Rams and is in the final year of his rookie contract. Last season, he led the NFL with 129 receptions and ranked second with 1,715 receiving yards.