Latest news with #JadaMcLean
Cosmopolitan
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Cosmopolitan
DCC responds to Chandi's scandal on Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders
Season two of America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders had some unexpected drama thanks to a group trip to the Bahamas that ended in "scandal." Basically, Chandi invited a stranger back to her shared hotel room, which made everyone else feel unsafe and resulted in her taking a leave of absence from the team—and stepping down from her leadership position. Chandi made it clear that she was dealing with a lot of pressure (not to mention a toxic ex) and wasn't getting the emotional support she needed, but she ended up returning to DCC on a positive note before retiring at the end of the season. Fellow DCC veteran Jada McLean spoke to People about the situation, saying, "There are things that go on in any workplace. Situations come up, and I think the biggest thing is how you handle it. I think we did our best as a team to handle it professionally while still being supportive of her." "We're not going to turn our back on her," she added. "We're teammates and we're sisters at the end of the day. As a team, I think we just kind of rallied together and kept to the job and did our best to keep things moving, because at the end of the day, we still had a job to get done and that was our goal." Meanwhile Armani Latimer said that the team is there to have each other's backs no matter what. "We see each other every single day pretty much. So there's kind of not going to be a day where if someone comes in and they seem a little off, we're not going to notice," she said. "And we'll pull them aside and have a chat with them and say, 'Hey, what's going on today? Anything you need to talk about?' So I think we're pretty good at doing that." America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders is available on Netflix now
Cosmopolitan
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Cosmopolitan
DCC Responds to Chandi's Scandal on 'Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders'
Season 2 of America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders had some unexpected drama thanks to a group trip to the Bahamas that ended in "scandal." Basically, Chandi invited a stranger back to her shared hotel room, which made everyone else feel unsafe and resulted in her taking a leave of absence from the team—and stepping down from her leadership position. Chandi made it clear that she was dealing with a ton of pressure (not to mention a toxic ex) and wasn't getting the emotional support she needed, but she ended up returning to DCC on a positive note before retiring at the end of the season. Fellow DCC veteran Jada McLean spoke to People about the situation, saying "There are things that go on in any workplace. Situations come up, and I think the biggest thing is how you handle it. I think we did our best as a team to handle it professionally while still being supportive of her." "We're not going to turn our back on her," she added. "We're teammates and we're sisters at the end of the day. As a team, I think we just kind of rallied together and kept to the job and did our best to keep things moving, because at the end of the day, we still had a job to get done and that was our goal." Meanwhile Armani Latimer said that the team is there to have each other's backs no matter what. "We see each other every single day pretty much. So there's kind of not going to be a day where if someone comes in and they seem a little off, we're not going to notice," she said. "And we'll pull them aside and have a chat with them and say, 'Hey, what's going on today? Anything you need to talk about?' So I think we're pretty good at doing that."
Daily Mail
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders stars break silence after Bahamas drama and Chandi's shock 'rule break' in season two - as it's revealed dancers will get a '400 per cent raise'
The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders have broken their silence after season two wrapped up with shock scenes showing Chandi Dayle's 'rule break'. Series two of Netflix 's hit reality TV series America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders hit screens this week, after its debut run won over legions of fans. However, things were not always plain-sailing for the cheerleaders during their 2024 season and tensions rose during a group trip to the Bahamas. Though it was meant to be a team-building opportunity, scenes showed six-year veteran and group leader Chandi step back from the squad following the trip. It emerged that she had violated a major team rule and had invited someone to their hotel, despite their policy stating they aren't allowed to disclose their whereabouts while abroad due to safety. Following the tense scenes, some of the dancers broke their silence after the 'unfortunate' on-screen fallout, revealing where they currently stand with Chandi now. 'I think we did our best as a team to handle it professionally while still being supportive of her,' fellow group leader Jada McLean told PEOPLE. She insisted that they remain 'sisters' despite the tension and are still on good terms with Chandi - who retired after returning for the last dance of the season. 'We're not going to turn our back on her,' newly-retired Jada insisted, adding that they don't let anything divide them as a team. Meanwhile, team director Kelli Finglass told Bustle: 'She's a sweet soul, and of course, we will stay in touch with her.' Chandi started struggling with her mental health at the end of the series due to the pressures of leading as well as a break-up with her long-term boyfriend, Ryan. Earlier in the series, she also opened up about how she was allegedly stalked by another ex-boyfriend, which put strain on her everyday life and relationship with Ryan. After the difficult time, Chandi met someone during the team Bahamas trip who had been through similar things as her and she invited them to the hotel to confide in them about her struggles. She insisted nothing romantic happened between them after rumours began to swirl, but she broke a team rule by bringing the stranger to their hotel, causing tension in the group. 'It was the first time I feel like I mental dumped everything, and everything that was happening, and everything I've gone through, and everything that was making me feel and think certain things,' Chandi shared on the show. 'It helped me in the moment. And I get it, it was probably the wrong place and time to do that. But selfishly, I had to do it for me. Because I feel like I was just, I was losing it.' After taking some time away for her mental health, with tensions obvious amongst the dancers, Chandi returned for the last dance of the season without the pressures of leading. However, the situation led to a further fallout as team member KayDianna MacKenzie left the squad after being suspended for taking about the situation on a TikTok Live. Kelli insisted it was KayDianna's decision to leave the squad and she didn't return for the end of season celebrations, sharing her upset to camera about her exit. Season two also followed the cheerleaders as they attempted to get a pay rise following the success of the first Netflix series. Jada, Amanda Howard, Megan McElaney and Armani Latimer were among those who spoke to lawyers and spearheaded a campaign for the cheerleaders to be paid more. After the release of series one last year, their low salaries stirred controversy and left viewers shocked, with season two following their attempts to get a pay rise. After initially being rejected, the dancers revealed at the end of the series that they had finally secured a massive 400 per cent pay increase. 'Our efforts were heard and they wanted to give us a raise,' four-year veteran Megan said on the show. 'And we ended up getting a 400 percent increase, which is like, life-changing.' The cheerleaders have been pushing for pay increases for years with the latest coming in 2019, when the Cowboys settled a lawsuit with a former cheerleader. The franchise settlement led to the squad doubling the per-game pay, from $200 to $400. The latest raise is four times that amount. However, veterans Jada, Armani and Amanda will not see the benefits of the action as they all retired at the end of season two - leaving their successors to relish in the win. While it's understood that not all Dallas cheerleaders make the same salary, one ex-Cowboys cheerleader who exclusively spoke to the Daily Mail said she made between $15,000 and $22,000 per year while part of the DCC. Cheerleaders can also add to their pay by doing special appearances, with those rates understood to be based on tenure. Other reports, such as one from NBC Sports Boston in 2022, said that Cowboys cheerleaders earn between $15-20 per hour or $500 per game - which the publication calculated out to a healthier $75,000 yearly salary. An ESPN report from 2017 added that the average leaguewide game-rate for cheerleaders was between $75 and $150. The franchise's chief brand officer - and daughter of owner Jerry Jones - Charlotte Jones has previously admitted cheerleaders are underpaid. 'There's a lot of cynicism around pay for NFL cheerleaders — as it should be. They're not paid a lot,' she said in the first season of the documentary, which shows the dedication it takes to be a Cowboys cheerleader. 'But the facts are, they actually don't come here for the money. They come here for something that's actually bigger than that to them. 'They have a passion for dance. There are not a lot of opportunities in the field of dance to get to perform at an elite level. It is about being a part of something bigger than themselves,' Jones continued. 'It is about a sisterhood that they are able to form, about relationships that they have for the rest of their life. They have a chance to feel like they are valued, they are special, and they are making a difference. When the women come here, they find their passion and they find their purpose.' As seen on Netflix, many of the team's members have to hold second jobs to pursue their goals in dance, and spend 30 to 40 hours of their week practicing.
CBC
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CBC
Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders' 400% raise is a reminder of how little female athletes get paid
If you're among the millions who have been riveted by America's Sweethearts, Netflix's docuseries about the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders, then you already know that the 36 women who make the squad are nothing less than pro athletes. Most come from studio-trained dance backgrounds. They endure gruelling training programs and have to meet intense physical demands — their trademark kick-line and jump-split move is so punishing that some of them have torn their hips to the point of needing surgery. From July to the end of the Cowboys season, they rehearse three to four times per week for two to three hours at a time, and perform at all home games. Practices alone can be a 40-hour-per week commitment, notes People magazine, and that doesn't include their promotional appearances. And for all this, until recently, they were reportedly not paid enough to support themselves. As the cheerleaders on the show themselves have pointed out, many of them work second or even third jobs. Now, the second season of America's Sweethearts has dropped, alongside a significant announcement: a 400 per cent pay increase. "Our efforts were heard and they wanted to give us a raise," four-year veteran Megan McElaney said on the show, calling the increase "life-changing." The show didn't disclose what the cheerleaders had earned before the pay raise, or what their compensation would look like after it. But former cheerleader Jada McLean told the New York Times Wednesday she used to make $15 US per hour as a five-year veteran on the squad, and with the pay bump, it could be more like $75 US per hour. While many have been shocked to learn how little NFL cheerleaders are paid, it fits into the overall narrative of the gender pay gap in women's sport, said Cheri Bradish, the director of the Future of Sport Lab at Toronto Metropolitan University. "There are inequities for women in sport in all kinds of roles, not just cheerleading," Bradish told CBC News. "Their journey is very similar to what we have seen with other leagues and teams who are struggling to get the respect of having broader and more respected pay in general." 'A volunteer position' Being a cheerleader is a significant commitment that demands a high level of athleticism, dedication and professionalism, said Raeanne Milovanovic, co-founder and vice-president of the Canadian Football Cheerleaders Alumni Organization. Compensation varies by team and has "historically been a topic of discussion," Milovanovic said. Stipends typically don't work out to minimum wage, she said, but there are other perks and promotional opportunities — and for many, it's more about the experience. "For many, it's a volunteer position," she said. CFL cheerleaders typically don't receive a regular fixed wage, but instead receive per-game payments of about $50 US to $100 US per game, according to the CFL News Hub. Salary discrepancies are gaining more attention as female sport experiences a massive rise in popularity. Superstars like the WNBA's Caitlin Clark, U.S. gymnast Simone Biles, rugby player Ilona Maher, and Canadian record-smashing swimmer Summer McIntosh have helped attract more eyeballs on events, as has the emergence of new female professional hockey and soccer leagues. Paycheques, however, have not kept pace. Paige Bueckers, for instance, the WNBA's No. 1 draft pick, is projected to earn just $78,831 US for her rookie year — about $109,480 Cdn, or less than the real median household income in the States. Players in the Professional Women's Hockey League can earn as little as $35,000 US per year. In March, a FIFA report on women's soccer found that the average salary for top-tier teams was $24,030 US globally, less than a living wage in many places. And despite 2024 seeing a surge of viral female athletes, not one woman made the top 100 list of highest-paid athletes worldwide last year. WATCH | The PWHL on its latest expansion: 'You have to see it to be it:' PWHL's executive VP says on latest expansion | Hanomansing Tonight 2 months ago Duration 5:48 The Professional Women's Hockey League will expand to Vancouver and begin play next season, the league announced on Wednesday. Jayna Hefford, OIympic gold medalist and executive vice president of hockey operations at PWHL, says Vancouver was 'a standout' opportunity to grow the league. The battle for pay The Dallas cheerleaders have been pushing for pay increases for years, part of an overall NFL cheerleader battle for minimum wage. In 2017, a federal judge tossed out a lawsuit accusing the NFL and team owners of conspiring to suppress wages for cheerleaders. In 2019, the Cowboys settled a lawsuit with a former cheerleader that led to the squad doubling the per-game pay, from $200 US to $400 US. The latest raise is four times that. "'Happy' isn't even the right word for it," former cheerleader Jada McLean said on the show. "I think I was just ... kind of felt, like, a relief, like everything had paid off. And it was, you know, finally, we were done fighting." Robyn Pineault, 42, cheered for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and the Toronto Argonauts in the early 2000s. On top of practices and public appearances, Pineault says she would dance the entire game on the sidelines, plus the halftime shows and shows between each quarter, all of which was physically demanding and time consuming. Pineault, who now lives in Ottawa, says she's proud of the Dallas cheerleaders for pushing for a pay raise. "They have the epitome of brand awareness in the industry. Every single cheerleader looks up to the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders," she said. "So to see them get a wage increase and actually be paid what they are worth, not just be given the opportunity to dance and have that career but also get fair pay, is a really great story for dancers everywhere."
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders' documents pay win for the group
The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders have scored a salary touchdown. The new season of the Netflix docuseries 'America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders' includes the women getting a pay raise. ''Happy' isn't even the right word for it. It kind of felt like a relief, like everything had paid off,' former cheerleader Jada McLean said. 'And finally, we were done fighting.' Netflix bills the series as viewers get to 'Follow the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders from auditions to training camp and the NFL season as they chase their dreams and a coveted spot on the squad.' During the first season the audience learned that because of the low pay many of cheerleaders had to work second jobs. The women have advocated for more money for years. 'Our efforts were heard, and they wanted to give us a raise,' Megan McElaney, a four year veteran of the team, said. 'And we ended up getting a 400 percent increase, which is, like, life-changing.' The Dallas Cowboys have long been called America's team and according to Forbes magazine the franchise has 'been the most valuable pro sports team in the world for almost a decade' as reported by Associated Press. Season two of 'America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders' is currently streaming on Netflix.
