NY AG James Cites Ray Rice Saga, Blasts NFL Gender Equality Record

NEW YORK — The NFL's reticent reaction to a horrific domestic violence scandal involving former New Rochelle High School football standout Ray Rice shocked the nation, but the New York Attorney General said the incident was symptomatic of a workplace that is rife with gender inequality issues that remain largely ignored.

New York Attorney General Letitia James continued her fight against gender-based discrimination on Wednesday, calling on the National Football League to address recent allegations of workplace inequity. In a letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, James, with attorneys general from five other states, wrote to express serious concerns about recent reports of the NFL’s hostile workplace culture.

More than 30 former employees have now come forward and described a pervasive culture of sexism and widespread workplace discrimination within the NFL, according to James. Allegations of hostile workplace behavior include sexual harassment and targeted retaliation.

The letter dated April 6 demands the NFL "take swift action to improve workplace conditions and protect its female employees." James cited the league's reaction to a domestic scandal involving an NFL star as an indication of the pervasiveness of the hostile work environment for women.

"In 2014, we watched in horror as the video of Ray Rice brutally attacking his fiancé was made public,” James said in a statement critical of the league's more recent actions. "In the aftermath of that disturbing incident and too many others, the NFL promised to do better, take gender violence seriously, and improve conditions for women within the league. We now know that they did nothing of the sort. No woman should ever be subjected to the sort of harassment, disrespect, discrimination, and abuse these brave women have described. The NFL must finally make good on its promise and do better — pink jerseys are not a replacement for equal treatment and full inclusion of women in the workplace."

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James pointed to a February 2022, New York Times report quoting more than 30 former employees of the NFL who described a hostile workplace for women. Female employees reported that they were subjected to repeated viewings of the Ray Rice video, with commentary by coworkers that the victim had brought the violence on herself. In a training intended to improve sensitivity on the issue, women were reportedly asked to raise their hand to self-identify if they had been victims of domestic violence or knew someone who had.

But James said the problems at the NFL extend beyond a failure for respect and sensitivity around serious issues of domestic violence.

According to James, female employees described experiencing unwanted touching from male bosses, attending parties where prostitutes were hired, facing unfair criticism based on stereotypes, being passed over for promotions based on their gender and being pushed out for complaining about discrimination. After eventually leaving their jobs with the NFL, some employees even learned that discrimination complaints had never been recorded, the AG said.

In the letter, Attorney General James and the coalition of attorneys general warned Goodell that the NFL must change what appears to be continued inaction in addressing these issues. If true, the NFL’s failures may violate local, state, and federal anti-discrimination laws, which prohibit employers from discriminating against women, people of color, and domestic violence victims, or subjecting them to a hostile work environment.

James and the coalition promised to use the full weight of their authority to investigate and prosecute all allegations of harassment, discrimination or retaliation by employers in their states.

Joining James' signature on the letter were the attorneys general of Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Oregon and Washington.

James called on anyone who experienced or witnessed similar discrimination at the NFL or any other employer, to file a complaint with the Office of the New York Attorney General.