Former NFL cheerleader, Bailey Davis, has filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission claiming that the NFL organization holds cheerleaders to different standards than the players claiming that it's for the cheerleaders "protection."
Intially Davis was fired for posting an unapproved photo of herself on social media (above). She said that immediately the team accused her of violating their rules that ban cheerleaders from posing nude or seminude such as in lingerie. The team rules also ban cheerleaders from attending parties with the players themselves.
Four days after the photo was posted, Davis said she received a text message from Ashley Deaton, the director of the team’s cheerleading squad.
“Very poor judgment to post a picture like that especially considering our recent conversations about the rumors going around about u,” Deaton wrote, referencing a rumor that Davis attended a party with a player. “This does not help your case. I’d expect you to know better.”
Davis says her social media accounts were all set to private and adhering to the team rules. Cheerleaders are also banned from following team players and are told to block them all from following, according to the New York Times.
Davis has denied the allegations of attending a party with the players multiple times and says in her complaint that the franchise's rules are outdated views of women in the workplace.
Sara Blackwell, Davis' lawyer, told the New York Times that the Saints policy with cheerleaders is discrimination and double standard.
“If the cheerleaders can’t contact the players, then the players shouldn’t be able to contact the cheerleaders,” Blackwell said. “The antiquated stereotype of women needing to hide for their own protection is not permitted in America and certainly not in the workplace.”
The Saints organization has denied any discrimination and has issued this statement:
“The Saints organization strives to treat all employees fairly, including Ms. Davis,” said Leslie A. Lanusse, the team’s lawyer. “At the appropriate time and in the appropriate forum, the Saints will defend the organization’s policies and workplace rules. For now, it is sufficient to say that Ms. Davis was not subjected to discrimination because of her gender.”