Washington Football Team cheerleaders demand NFL release report on team's ‘Boys Club’

They're understandably horrified, and now they're speaking out.

Several National Football League cheerleaders are requesting that the League disclose their full report into workplace culture after allegations were revealed of coaches secretly distributing explicit photos of them. 

During an interview with The Daily Beast on Tuesday, former cheerleaders explained that they weren't surprised by the allegations but were disgusted nonetheless. 

The emails in question are part of the scandal that includes now former Las Vegas Raiders head coach Jon Gruden, who stepped down from his position earlier in the week after past emails of his revealed sexist and homophobic language, as well as a racist trope. 

“It’s despicable, really, to see that there is more evidence of exploitation and violation of these cheerleaders who I worked very closely with,” said Melanie Coburn, the current WFT squad director and a former cheerleader in her own right. 

“The NFL must do the right thing and make the sexual misconduct investigation of the WFT public AND hold Dan Snyder accountable for the history of serial sexual harassment within his organization,” reads a petition created by Melanie Coburn, a Washington Football Team cheerleader and the team’s marketing director.

“These women aren’t just on the literal sidelines,” continues the petition, which has racked up more than 40,000 signatures as of Thursday. “They support local charities and visit veterans and sick children in local hospitals. They create incredible value through youth outreach programs and put their lives at risk on overseas military tours to engage with and honor our servicemen and women.”

“This cannot and must not stand. #NFLforwomensrights #WFTdotherightthing #evolvedontcancel.”

The Washington Post reported last year that WFT staff were asked to take footage from a swimsuit shoot that showed “the good bits” while the cheerleaders were changing positions and clothes; the video was then reportedly delivered to team owner Dan Snyder, who denied the allegations. 

 “I would just say release the freaking report," said Courtney DeYoung, a 12 year veteran of the squad. 

“Let’s have some transparency and then let’s decide what to do moving forward,” she added. “Let’s stop protecting the boys club and just release it.”

A lawsuit against the WFT for the alleged video was reportedly settled out of court earlier this year.