Ex-NFL cheerleader not seeking monetary damages over discrimination: lawyer
A lawyer representing the former NFL cheerleader who filed a recent discrimination lawsuit against the league said she will settle all claims for $1 in exchange for a four-hour meeting with Commissioner Roger Goodell.
Last week Sara Blackwell, the lawyer representing former New Orleans Saints cheerleader Bailey Davis, sent a proposal asking league officials to meet with four cheerleaders to come up with rules and regulations for all NFL teams.
The proposal would also prevent teams from disbanding their cheerleading squads for at least five years from retaliation against cheerleaders who have raised discrimination concerns.
“We would each have the chance to tell our story and what we’ve seen and have the opportunity to talk about the changes that need to be made in order to facilitate a productive meeting and come to an agreement where we can have equal and fair rules that are free of discrimination,” Davis said to FOX Business’ Stuart Varney on “Varney & Co.”
However, Davis is not seeking monetary damages, according to Blackwell. She said cheerleaders have the right to a professional workplace environment free of discrimination and harassment.
“Our goal in this is to give the cheerleaders that are there now and the ones coming in a really great environment,” Blackwell said.
Davis, who said she was fired over an image on social media as well as her alleged appearance at a party, filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commissioner in January. She said men and women in the league play by different sets of rules.
Blackwell said they would like to see changes to the no-fraternization rule, which is meant to protect cheerleaders from “predators,” but is in the best interest of the players.
“Players can do everything and anything towards the cheerleaders,” Blackwell said. “They are constantly having to look over their shoulder. If they are at a party and a player walks in, they have to be hyperaware all of the time because they can be immediately terminated if they are in a room where there is a player.”
“That’s such 1920s way of looking it: The women has to protect ourselves from the football player,” Davis added. “If you’re going to have the fraternization rule, you know, have it for the cheerleaders and the football player so we are both aware of the rule and the football players aren’t trying to talk to us if that’s the issue -- don’t put it on the woman.”