Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders controversy: Former member reveals ‘dark side’ of pay, pressure and safety
The former cheerleader said she earned between $15,000 and $22,000 a year during her time with the DCC and needed two other jobs to cover her expenses. Former DCC member Erica Wilkins sued the Cowboys over pay in 2018. A 2019 settlement increased hourly pay from $8 to $12 and doubled the game-day payment from $200 to $400.
Because authorities said there was not enough evidence, police did not bring charges. Since then, the team has also announced a major pay increase. Another storyline involved Sophy Laufer, who reported that a cameraman had grabbed her after a Thanksgiving game.
Speaking anonymously to Daily Mail Sport, the former cheerleader said the strong bond between members often helped them cope with the pressure. She said the job gave them close friendships but also left some feeling underpaid and replaceable. She also questioned comments from Charlotte Jones, who said in the Netflix series that dancers were drawn by passion, purpose and sisterhood rather than money. “It’s very insulting to see someone in such a high position talk about the fact we’re in it for something bigger than ourselves,” the former cheerleader said. She said the team expected dancers to maintain a certain image and that mental health support was difficult to afford. The former cheerleader said the pressure could be difficult to leave behind.
The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders faced renewed scrutiny after a former member described low pay, strict appearance rules, mental health struggles and safety concerns behind the famous team. The Netflix documentary America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders brought several of these issues to a wider audience. The issue had already led to legal action. The former member also described pressure around appearance and strict rules. Safety was another concern shown in America’s Sweethearts . Senior member Kelcey Wetterberg spoke about finding an AirTag on her car and the fear it caused her.