Cheerleader goes after NFL, claims she was forced to wear duct tape
A former Houston Texans cheerleader has joined a lawsuit against the team with allegations that the cheer director used duct tape on her body to make her look thinner.
The cheerleader, Angelina Rosa, claims that cheer director Alto Gary called her aside before game in 2017 and applied duct tape to her stomach without permission, reported The Houston Chronicle.
CHEERLEADER SUES NFL FOR ABUSE- VO/SOT FRI0177 & FRI0178 & FRI0179- At a Friday news conference attorney Gloria Allred stood beside a former Houston Texans cheerleader who says her body was duct taped without her consent. Angelina Rosa says she was considered "skinny fat." pic.twitter.com/knnw4pZkXE
— CBS Newspath (@cbsnewspath) June 22, 2018
Rosa alleges that Gary told her “this will hurt a bit,” according to the Houston Chronicle. Rosa said she allowed the taping to continue even though she felt “humiliated and ashamed of my own body,” the Chronicle reported.
Another former Texans cheerleader has come forward with accusations against the organization. At 4, @PoojaOnTV has more on her claims of being body shamed and duct taped before some games. pic.twitter.com/o3puBYdUh3
— ABC13 Houston (@abc13houston) June 22, 2018
Rosa said the taping did hurt.
“My skin was being torn because of the movements (of dancing). … I stand here today to try to make sure no other girl or woman has to endure this same humiliation,” Rosa said at a news conference in front of NFL headquarters in New York City last Friday with her attorney, Gloria Allred, reported the Chronicle.
Rosa also alleges that she was called “skinny fat” because she didn’t have the “abs or the dimensions or the perfection that is required,” the Chronicle reported.
https://twitter.com/KPRC2AaronEP/status/1010188744534773760
Rosa is one of 10 former Texans cheerleaders involved in two lawsuits filed in Houston federal court in May against the team over payment and workplace issues. One is filed by Allred and Houston attorney Kimberly Spurlock, while the other suit was by Houston attorney Bruse Loyd seeking class action status, reported the Chronicle.
The lawsuits accuse the team of failing to pay minimum wage and overtime and of workplace violations, reported the Chronicle.
“Fear on our team was huge. Nobody wanted to talk out. Nobody wanted to step up, although we all felt the same,” Rosa said at the press conference.
Gloria Allred and ex-NFL cheerleaders delivered a letter to the NFL demanding fairer pay and work conditions. Last week, the former cheerleaders sued the Houston Texans for a hostile work environment, no overtime pay, and failing to pay them minimum wage — $7.25/hour. pic.twitter.com/kC3zyBAv9q
— AJ+ (@ajplus) June 4, 2018
Some former Texans cheerleaders have come out to say they never experienced the issues cited in the lawsuits.
“I never experienced or even witnessed some of the allegations that I have seen in the media being made by these girls,” Texans cheerleader Kayla Darlington said according to the Chronicle.
“I’m not sure what their motivation is, I can’t comment on what they say they went through. I can only speak for me and tell you that my experience and even what I witnessed was nothing like what I’ve heard through this lawsuit. This handful of women do not represent the masses when it comes to HTC alumni,” Darlington added.
The Texans have filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit.
The Texans attorneys said the matter should be decided by the NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.
Gloria Allred regarding Texans Cheerleaders' lawsuit: "Mr. Goodell, u dropped the ball. Instead of scoring a goal for women's rights, u retreated back to the locker room with your head down."
Come on, scoring a goal??? 😂 Also its a penalty to lower your head now in the NFL.— Allied Sports (@allied_sports) June 22, 2018
“The standard cheerleader contract includes a clause in which both sides agree that the NFL commissioner will preside over binding arbitration to settle any disputes. The commissioner also has authority to refer the dispute to an outside arbitrator. The team is trying to get the cases dismissed in lieu of arbitration before Commissioner Roger Goodell,” the Chronicle reported June 15.
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