As part of a photo shoot on a 2013 trip to Costa Rica, the Washington Redskins forced members of their cheerleading squad to pose topless or in nothing but body paint in front of an all-male contingent of sponsors and FedExField suite ticket holders, according to The New York Times.
Some of the 36 women – all of whom had their passports confiscated by Redskins officials upon arriving at the resort – were asked to be the personal escorts for the male sponsors at a nightclub that evening, a request that was met with tears from some squad members.
While sex wasn’t a requirement, going on the nightclub trip was seen as mandatory by the team.
“It’s just not right to send cheerleaders out with strange men when some of the girls clearly don’t want to go,” one cheerleader who was there told The Times. “But unfortunately, I feel like it won’t change until something terrible happens, like a girl is assaulted in some way, or raped. I think teams will start paying attention to this only when it’s too late.”
Immediately after the trip, multiple members of the team left their positions, although some of the cheerleaders who went to Costa Rica still remain with the Redskins.
According to a statement Washington gave to The Times: “The Redskins’ cheerleader program is one of the NFL’s premier teams in participation, professionalism, and community service. Each Redskin cheerleader is contractually protected to ensure a safe and constructive environment. The work our cheerleaders do in our community, visiting our troops abroad, and supporting our team on the field is something the Redskins organization and our fans take great pride in.”
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