NFL cheerleaders paid $3.3 million over changeroom filming scandal
The Dallas Cowboys reportedly paid a combined sum of $2.4 million (AU$3.3 million) to four cheerleaders who accused a top team official of secretly watching them undress without their knowledge in 2015.
According to ESPN, one of the cheerleaders alleges she saw Richard Dalrymple, the team's senior vice president for public relations and communications, standing behind a partial wall and watching them undress with his iPhone "extended toward them."
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ESPN has not released the names of the four cheerleaders who received the settlement.
Dalrymple has also been accused of taking an 'upskirt' photo of team owner Jerry Jones' daughter, Cowboys senior vice president Charlotte Jones Anderson.
Dalrymple, who retired earlier this month after 32 years with the Cowboys, said in a statement that he denies all the accusations.
“People who know me, co-workers, the media and colleagues, know who I am and what I’m about,” Dalrymple said.
“I understand the very serious nature of these claims and do not take them lightly. The accusations are, however, false.
"One was accidental and the other simply did not happen. Everything that was alleged was thoroughly investigated years ago, and I co-operated fully.”
The Cowboys told ESPN that both incidents were investigated and no evidence of wrongdoing was found.
The voyeurism incident allegedly took place during a charity luncheon in September of 2015.
The four cheerleaders reportedly attended, wore their uniforms during an on-stage presentation, and then went to their dressing room to change so they could attend the actual luncheon.
Only one security guard was present on the day when two typically stood by two different entrances to the dressing room.
Dalrymple allegedly entered the unguarded door, which was reportedly accessible only by keycard (which Dalrymple had). The door led to a nook that was separated from the dressing room by a partial wall.
According to an attorney's letter obtained by ESPN as well as multiple sources, the women heard the door open and shouted "We're in here!" They reportedly assumed it was a security guard and thought he'd left.
"Several minutes later, one of the cheerleaders noticed a man's hand and a black cellphone pointed in their direction, according to several sources," ESPN reports.
"At the time, the women were going 'from fully clothed to completely unclothed,' a cheerleader later told a Cowboys HR official and the team's general counsel, Jason Cohen. The cheerleader who saw the cellphone was certain the man was lurking and taking photos or video of them, according to multiple sources.
"That woman ran toward him, shouting, 'Hey, what are you doing?' The cheerleader, a veteran of several years on the team, immediately recognised Dalrymple, who she said dashed away, according to the letter. The other women did not see the man, according to the letter."
Richard Dalrymple also accused of 'upskirt' photo
Jim Wilkinson, a communication consultant for the team, said “the investigation was handled consistent with best legal and HR practices and the investigation found no evidence of wrongdoing.”
“If any wrongdoing had been found, Rich would have been terminated immediately.”
Dalrymple reportedly admitted that he used his keycard to enter the locker room, but said it was only to use the bathroom.
While searching for evidence of other incidents involving Dalrymple, one of the cheerleaders reportedly found a post on Facebook from 'lifelong fan' Randy Horton alleging that he saw Dalrymple take several upskirt photos of Charlotte Jones Anderson on a livestream of the team's draft war room.
"I'll never forget what I saw," Horton told ESPN. "The first time he reached out from a sitting position behind her, and she is standing with her back to him, and did it once ... He looked at the screen, touched the screen and then did it again.
"The second time, he's sitting in a chair at the corner of the table on the left and he held his phone beneath the corner of the table with the camera side facing up where she was standing. And did it again.
"I have no doubt in my mind of what it was he was doing. It was obvious."
Cowboys cheerleaders received $3.3 million payout
ESPN reports that the cheerleaders eventually chose to settle with the team, and all four were eventually paid nearly $550,000 each.
However the cheerleaders and their spouses had to sign nondisclosure agreements and were forbidden from talking about the locker room incident or the war room incident unless they were issued a subpoena.
Jones, his two sons, his daughter and Dalrymple all reportedly signed the agreement, which denied any wrongdoing.
Dalrymple continued to work for the Cowboys for another six years until he retired earlier in February.
According to ESPN, his retirement was announced around the time they started making inquiries about the settlement and related incidents.
No retirement announcement was made, and no team officials publicly thanked him for his years of service.
with Liz Roscher - Yahoo Sports
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