Ex-Saints Cheerleader Sues Team, Claims Discrimination Related to Social Media

Former New Orleans Saints cheerleader Bailey Davis is suing the organization after she was reportedly fired for posting an image of herself wearing a one-piece outfit on her private Instagram account and accused of appearing at a party with players, according to Ken Belson of the New York Times.

Per Belson, Saints rules "prohibit cheerleaders from appearing nude, seminude or in lingerie" or fraternizing with players.

"Davis has filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the federal agency that enforces civil rights laws," Belson wrote. "The complaint accuses the Saints of having two sets of rules—one for the team's cheerleaders, who are all women, and another for its players."

According to Belson, the Saints' anti-fraternization policy is stringent and puts the burden on the cheerleaders, not the players:

"The Saints have an anti-fraternization policy that requires cheerleaders to avoid contact with players, in person or online, even though players are not penalized for pursuing such engagement with cheerleaders. The cheerleaders must block players from following them on social media and cannot post photos of themselves in Saints gear, denying them the chance to market themselves. The players are not required to do any of these things.

"Cheerleaders are told not to dine in the same restaurant as players, or speak to them in any detail. If a Saints cheerleader enters a restaurant and a player is already there, she must leave. If a cheerleader is in a restaurant and a player arrives afterward, she must leave."

Davis and her lawyer, Sara Blackwell, argue there is a double standard.

"If the cheerleaders can't contact the players, then the players shouldn't be able to contact the cheerleaders," Blackwell told Belson. "The antiquated stereotype of women needing to hide for their own protection is not permitted in America and certainly not in the workplace."

This isn't the first time a team or the NFL has been accused of discriminatory or exploitative practices. But Davis is hoping her lawsuit will help institute changes around the organization.

"I'm doing this for them so they can do what they love and feel protected and empowered and be a female athlete and not be pushed to the side and feeling unimportant," she told Belson.