Latest news with #EricaWilkins
Time of India
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders confirm 400% pay raise in Netflix's America's Sweethearts — here's what they're earning now
The Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders, one of the NFL's most iconic squads, are receiving a substantial pay increase following the release of the Netflix docuseries America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. As revealed during Season 2, which premiered on June 18, 2025, squad members are now earning 400% more than in previous seasons, marking one of the most significant wage shifts in the team's history. What the Netflix series America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders revealed In America's Sweethearts, the cheerleaders gave an unfiltered look at their lives, highlighting both the physical demands of the job and the financial realities many faced behind the scenes. While the team's image has long been associated with glamour and prestige, the series made it clear that compensation hadn't kept pace. During the second season, cheerleader Megan McElaney, a four-year veteran, confirmed the new raise on camera. 'Our efforts were heard, and they wanted to give us a raise,' she said. 'And we ended up getting a 400% increase, which is, like, life-changing.' Her statement came after months of internal discussions between team leadership and returning squad members, who pushed for more equitable compensation as the franchise continued to grow in visibility and revenue. A history of underpayment Calls for fairer wages are not new. In 2019, the Cowboys settled a lawsuit filed by former cheerleader Erica Wilkins, who alleged she was making as little as $7 per hour, with no overtime pay and $200 per game. That legal action resulted in the team doubling game-day pay from $200 to $400, but base hourly wages remained low—around $15 an hour as recently as 2024. The Netflix docuseries helped reignite public and internal attention to these concerns, giving current members a national platform to voice the need for updated pay standards. What the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders make now Following the 400% increase, current Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders are earning: $75 or more per hour for rehearsals, appearances, and related duties Up to $2,000 per game day, compared to $500 before the raise Weekly earnings around $1,600, depending on scheduling and event participation While the pay increase marks a dramatic improvement, the cheerleaders remain classified as part-time employees, which means they do not receive health insurance or long-term employment benefits. However, they continue to have access to the Cowboys' medical staff during the season. Why this matters The Dallas Cowboys are consistently ranked as the most valuable sports franchise in the world, with a current estimated valuation exceeding $10 billion. For years, many have argued that the cheerleaders, integral to the team's brand identity and media presence, were being underpaid despite their contributions. With America's Sweethearts shining a spotlight on these issues, the newly announced raise is being viewed not only as a win for the current team but as a pivotal moment for cheerleaders across the NFL.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Finally Earn a Livable Wage After 400 Percent Raise
Break out your pom-poms and get ready to celebrate: the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders are finally getting a much-deserved raise. The team revealed the news on the second season of their Netflix documentary series America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. According to Megan McElaney, a fourth-year veteran on the team, the cheerleaders are getting a 'life-changing' 400 percent pay raise for the 2025 season. Advertisement This is a huge win for the cheerleaders, who have been fighting for better fair pay since former cheerleader Erica Wilkins sued the team back in 2018, alleging that she made less than the team's mascot for her work. The case was settled a year later, resulting in an increase of wages from $8 to $12 and the game day rate from $200 to $400. When Season 1 of the series premiered back in 2024, the world was shocked to learn that the cheerleaders were barely making minimum wage. During the show, former Dallas Cowboy cheerleader Kat Puryear compared their wages to a 'substitute teacher' or a 'Chick-Fil-A' worker that's full time.' The revelation about the cheerleaders' unfair salaries sparked outrage online, with many people pointing out the irony that players make millions of dollars a year, while the cheerleaders are essentially told to be 'grateful' for minimum wage. In an interview with the New York Times, former cheerleader Jada McLean provided more details about the raise. In 2024, McLean claims she made around $15 dollars an hour and $500 per game. With the raise, cheerleaders can now make $75 per hour or more, depending on the number of years spent on the team. Advertisement People on social media celebrated the win, reiterating that the raise was 'long overdue.' 'About time. They deserve it and had been exploited for far too long,' an X user commented. Another user was happy for the squad, but still thought they deserve more. 'Hope they are getting paid better. I see veterans now get $75 per hour. But honestly should be more given how much they make for that company. Also, tbh, they are the talent because who are even the cowboys at this point without their cheerleaders,' they wrote. It's a good day for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. Maybe they should change their nickname to America's Fairly Paid Sweethearts.
New York Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Get a 400 Percent Pay Raise
In what amounts to the biggest reveal of the second season of the Netflix docuseries 'America's Sweethearts,' the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders will receive a pay raise of roughly 400 percent for the 2025 season. It is a huge increase in a profession known for its low wages, and one that a former cheerleader for the team, Jada McLean, described in an interview with The New York Times as 'a drastic change' that could give the cheerleaders more financial security. The pay bump is announced in Episode 7 of the show's second season, which began streaming on Wednesday. It caps a yearslong effort for higher pay that drew a great deal of attention in 2018 when the former cheerleader Erica Wilkins sued the team for unfair pay. She claimed in her lawsuit that she received roughly $7 per hour with no overtime pay and a flat rate of $200 per game, which, in total, ended up being less than the annual pay for the team's mascot, Rowdy. Her case was settled out of court in 2019 and, since then, hourly wages for the squad remained low. Missing from the announcement of the raise in the show were any specifics of what the cheerleaders were making previously, or how much they would be paid under their new deal. But in a rare instance of a Cowboys cheerleader, past or present, discussing her compensation, Ms. McLean told The Times that in 2024, her fifth year with the squad, she had made $15 an hour and $500 for each appearance, and that compensation varies based on experience. With the increased wages, she said veteran cheerleaders could now be making more than $75 an hour. The new contract also changes the structure around pay for game day and other appearances, though Ms. McLean said it still does not provide health insurance. In an emailed statement, the franchise would not confirm the new wages or if the new rates apply to rookies on the team as well. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
