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Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys are embroiled in a serious controversy involving their past treatment of cheerleaders.
Two weeks ago, ESPN’s Don Van Natta Jr. reported that the Cowboys paid a confidential settlement of $2.4 million after several Cowboys cheerleaders accused senior team executive Richard Dalrymple of peeping in their locker room as they undressed during a 2015 event at AT&T Stadium.
My latest for ESPN: EXCLUSIVE: Cowboys paid $2.4 million to settle cheerleaders' voyeurism allegations against recently retired senior team executive Richard Dalrymple. https://t.co/2PX3pwFze8
— Don Van Natta Jr. (@DVNJr) February 16, 2022
Journalist Sarah Hepola of Texas Monthly has been conducting a podcast on the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, America’s Girls, that features some unflattering revelations about team owner Jerry Jones.
According to former Cowboys cheerleader Cindy Villarreal who appeared on the podcast, Jones invited her to accompany him on a trip in his private jet, where she was expected to entertain rich businessmen while wearing her skimpy uniform.
Villareal says she quit her job as a Cowboys cheerleader because she felt that invitation was “raunchy.”
When Jerry Jones took over the team in 1989, he began inviting friends to sit in on cheerleading practices. In ep. 5, a former cheerleader describes being hand-selected to appear in uniform aboard the team owner’s private jet. She quit the squad rather than make the appearance.
— Texas Monthly (@TexasMonthly) February 17, 2022
Cindy Villarreal: I saw the description, that I had to be in my uniform on this private jet with all of his businessmen and my thought was, “Why would I go on this? This isn’t a football game. These people are not sick. They don’t need a morale boost. I’m eye candy on this plane, and this is not what I signed up for.” And I remember thinking, “This is exactly what they told us in that locker room.”
Cindy was told she’d been “handpicked” by Jerry, a detail that made her even more uncomfortable, and she didn’t know what to do. She says she called Debbie for advice.
Cindy Villarreal: And I said to her, I said, “I loved being a cheerleader. I wanted to give it a chance. This is my dream, you know?” So, she said, “Well, if you feel that way, Cindy, you need to make some decisions.” I don’t know what would’ve happened on the plane, but I do feel like it was not appropriate. It just felt outside of what our normal ambassadorship was, and I think what he was doing was he was showboating, “Look at all the girls. I just bought this team. I own these girls.” And he didn’t own me.
And so, she quit.
Cindy Villarreal: So I went and I packed up my uniform and I packed up all of my show group outfits, and I walked across the street and I went to meet with Leslie.
Sarah Hepola: Did a part of you ever think about just doing it?
Cindy Villarreal: No. No. There was never a moment where I felt like I wanted to get on that plane, because my first thought was, “Why am I being asked to be on an airplane with Jerry’s businessmen?” I thought it was raunchy.
As of now, the NFL has said that they will not look into the Cowboys over the treatment of their cheerleaders but that could change if more accusations come forward.