There’s a new article out in the New York Times alleging that the Washington Redskins arranged for male advertising sponsors and fans to attend a topless photo shoot of the team’s cheerleaders during a calendar shoot in Costa Rica in 2013:
Topless photo shoots in front of male sponsors and an uneasy night out: Redskins cheerleaders describe an overseas trip that crossed the line https://t.co/IG6Cx8FVen
— The New York Times (@nytimes) May 2, 2018
According to the New York Times, during one night on the trip, 9 of the women on the squad were singled out and chosen to act as “personal escorts at a nightclub.” A cheerleader is quoted as saying, “They weren’t putting a gun to our heads, but it was mandatory for us to go”:
One evening, the squad’s director told 9 of the 36 cheerleaders they had an evening assignment. Some of the male sponsors picked them to be personal escorts at a nightclub.
“So get back to your room and get ready,” the director told them. Several of them began to cry. pic.twitter.com/Mr3qJGHIhN
— The New York Times (@nytimes) May 2, 2018
Although the escorting was not sexual, the cheerleaders described it as “pimping us out”:
The cheerleaders describe feeling as if the arrangement amounted to “pimping us out.” https://t.co/cZrFJVV25k pic.twitter.com/FmWtvrxhPG
— The New York Times (@nytimes) May 2, 2018
Response from the Redskins:
Several women decided to leave the team the following season. What happened overseas, they said, made them feel worthless and unprotected.
In a statement, the Redskins describe their cheerleader program as one with a “safe and constructive environment.” https://t.co/cZrFJVV25k
— The New York Times (@nytimes) May 2, 2018
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And as our friends at Hot Air point out, except for the creepy topless and pimping parts of the trip, everyone seemed OK with it:
None of the Times’s sources seemed to dislike their job-job, though. They even understood and accepted that the squad’s sex appeal will be used to market it. Business is business. What they didn’t like is the non-job part of the job, particularly feeling ambushed into private performances for strange men whom they didn’t feel they could say no to.
A quick search of the Redskins’ Twitter account shows the team heavily promoted the trip with a series of photos of the scantily clad women along with (no longer active) links to video diaries from the trip:
Tasha writes about her first @1stLadiesOfFB calendarphoto shoot in sunny Costa Rica: http://t.co/tnXR7hrgCt pic.twitter.com/PdENjfbZmF
— Washington Redskins (@Redskins) May 29, 2013
Megan chimes in from beautiful Costa Rica on #WRCCalendarShoot Day 2, says she’s ‘excited' for opportunity. http://t.co/CxttZNT2kl #LiveIt
— Washington Redskins (@Redskins) May 30, 2013
The @1stLadiesOfFB rehearse for Costa Rica #CheerShoot performance! Full Day 2 gallery: http://t.co/WtUtYpU4IG pic.twitter.com/jm32Cf03ej
— Washington Redskins (@Redskins) May 30, 2013
#Redskins Cheerleaders first 2013 @1stLadiesOfFB Costa Rica photo shoot of the year:http://t.co/WtUtYpU4IG pic.twitter.com/ASzQwW8o5d
— Washington Redskins (@Redskins) May 31, 2013
The @1stLadiesOfFB become beauties on the beach as the Costa Rica #CheerShoot begins: http://t.co/Obvg6UdTNQ pic.twitter.com/ceOexgu145
— Washington Redskins (@Redskins) June 2, 2013
The @1stLadiesOfFB have fun by the waterfall durign a Costa Rica calendar #CheerShoot: http://t.co/Obvg6UdTNQ pic.twitter.com/iylcrDQSdi
— Washington Redskins (@Redskins) June 3, 2013
GALLERY: Check out the @1stLadiesOfFB final beach calendar shoot from Costa Rica: http://t.co/J9Z8K3EqwZ pic.twitter.com/JwjOt9883R
— Washington Redskins (@Redskins) June 5, 2013
Cheerleaders' Costa Rica Calendar Diary: A recap of the Washington Redskins Cheerleaders' diary from the 2013 … http://t.co/hIBtCpnhd8
— Washington Redskins (@Redskins) July 15, 2013
Other photos and videos were shared on the official account for the cheerleading squad, @1stLadiesOfFB:
Getting Xtremely fit with trainer Jason Fuller to prepare for the calendar trip at Occidental Resort in Costa Rica! pic.twitter.com/XzoGmj7u5E
— First Ladies of Football (@1stLadiesOfFB) May 19, 2013
Countdown to WRC calendar trip: 5 days! Costa Rica here we come… special thanks to Occidental Hotels & Resorts! pic.twitter.com/FkAX2N2qhS
— First Ladies of Football (@1stLadiesOfFB) May 23, 2013
Second year veterans are ready for Costa Rica! pic.twitter.com/kAvv7FbPFT
— First Ladies of Football (@1stLadiesOfFB) May 29, 2013
The first rehearsal is under way here in Costa Rica! #WRCCalendarShoot https://t.co/dkamoRTqZY
— First Ladies of Football (@1stLadiesOfFB) May 30, 2013
Ashley A. checks in from beautiful Costa Rica. Here’s her video postcard on our official Facebook page! https://t.co/S0R2E9hHWO
— First Ladies of Football (@1stLadiesOfFB) May 30, 2013
Ashley A. is the first cheerleader to shoot here in Costa Rica! #WRCCalendarShoot https://t.co/oQoq1n67i9
— First Ladies of Football (@1stLadiesOfFB) May 30, 2013
Co-Captain Maigan poses in the Costa Rica sunset wearing Redskins apparel by #DesignsbyKellyAllen #WRCCalendarShoot pic.twitter.com/Uxc2Nxxwh5
— First Ladies of Football (@1stLadiesOfFB) June 1, 2013
The squad gets in a quick practice poolside during the last day in Costa Rica! #WRCCalendarShoot pic.twitter.com/0pscFGmWMz
— First Ladies of Football (@1stLadiesOfFB) June 3, 2013
2nd year Truly looks amazing in this @DMilikah red one-piece in Costa Rica! #WRCCalendarShoot pic.twitter.com/N24YKLZqiU
— First Ladies of Football (@1stLadiesOfFB) June 7, 2013
“@Redskins: VIDEO: Captain Ashley A. befriends a White-Nosed Coati in Costa Rica: http://t.co/I6oICq0KpG pic.twitter.com/NuPtx0LBcr”
— First Ladies of Football (@1stLadiesOfFB) July 18, 2013
The calendar shoots are an annual tradition with the 2018 trip set for Cabo San Lucas, Mexico:
We are super excited to announce this year we will travel to Hotel Riu Santa Fe in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, for our 2018 Calendar Shoot!! ?? Special thank you to @RiuHoteles & @AppleVacations! #WRCinCabo
__________#itsRIUtime #AppleVacaions pic.twitter.com/tlj2AAFVNC— First Ladies of Football (@1stLadiesOfFB) April 19, 2018
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