5 Ex-Cheerleaders Sue The Houston Texans Over Low Pay

HOUSTON, TX — Five former Houston Texans Cheerleaders have filed a class action lawsuit against the Houston Texans organization, citing unfair working conditions and sexual harassment.

The five women, who were all part of the cheerleading squad in 2017, are represented by Gloria Allred, who is known as a feminist attorney.

Allred said she intends to deliver a letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell regarding the allegations committed by the Texans organization.

According to the lawsuit, the women allege they were paid a minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, weren't paid overtime, and sexually harassed by fans.

For away games, the Texans paid for hotels, but the cheerleaders received no stipend to cover food cost and were not reimbursed for time missed at their other jobs, KTRK reported.

This is the second class action lawsuit filed against the Houston Texans by former cheerleaders.

On May 22, three former cheerleaders filed a lawsuit alleging body shaming by the Texans cheer leading coach.

Alto Gary, who is the Texans cheerleading coach and the only person named in the suit, allegedly made it a habit of body shaming cheerleaders, often using terms like "chunky cheek" or "jelly belly" to referring to one of the cheerleaders, poking one of the cheerleaders in the face and accusing her of gaining her "freshman 15," and taking one cheerleader to a secluded area of the stadium and using duct tape to tape her stomach skin in her shorts, before parading her in front of her peers, KHOU reported.

The Texans issued a statement after the May 22 lawsuit was fied, but have declined to comment further.

"We are proud of the cheerleader program and have had hundreds of women participate and enjoy their experience while making a positive impact in the local community," the statement said. "We are constantly evaluating our procedures and will continue to make adjustments as needed to make the program enjoyable for everyone."

Image: Houston Texans cheerleaders perform during a football game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Houston Texansat Reliant Stadium on November 2, 2014 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

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