Redskins cheerleaders recount forced topless photo shoot in front of sponsors
A trip to Costa Rica for a calendar shoot in 2013 crossed a line for several members of the Washington Redskins cheerleading squad.
Upon arrival at the team's resort, the cheerleaders had their passports collected by team officials, Juliet Macur of The New York Times reports, based on interviews with five cheerleaders involved. Details were corroborated with others who had heard details of the trip.
Some of the cheerleaders said they were required to be topless for a photo shoot at the adults-only Occidental Grand Papagayo resort on Culebra Bay - an act in itself the cheerleaders say they would have been OK with as the calendar would not show nudity and the resort was in a secluded setting, if not for the team inviting male sponsors and FedExField suite holders as spectators for the shoot.
One evening following a 14-hour day of posing and dance practices, the squad's director told nine of the 36 cheerleaders they would be required to escort male sponsors to a nightclub.
"They weren't putting a gun to our heads, but it was mandatory for us to go," one of the cheerleaders said. "We weren't asked, we were told. Other girls were devastated because we knew exactly what she was doing."
The cheerleaders interviewed said they were not required to have sex as part of the arrangement, but they were still being used by the team as sex symbols to please the male sponsors.
When leaving the nightclub around 3 a.m. local time, the women were stopped by police officers asking for their passports, which they did not have.
"I guess they thought you were prostitutes," a man affiliated with the cheerleading squad told them after they were allowed to leave.
The cheerleaders had their transportation, meal, and lodging costs covered for the weeklong trip, but received no compensation beyond that.
"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 said. "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."
The cheerleaders' descriptions of the trip were refuted by Stephanie Jojokian, director and choreographer of the team's cheerleading squad.
"I was not forcing anyone to go at all," Jojokian said. "I'm the mama bear, and I really look out for everybody, not just the cheerleaders. It's a big family. We respect each other and our craft. It's such a supportive environment for these ladies."
The cheerleaders also detailed further inappropriate interactions with fans and sponsors that include a listener contest that would reward "five lucky winners" by having team cheerleaders wash their cars, and a "hot or not" game on the team website.
The Redskins provided the following statement in relation to the trip to Costa Rica.
"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."