Angelina Rosa, a former NFL cheerleader, has filed a lawsuit against the Houston Texans, claiming she was subjected to body-shaming by the team’s coach. She alleged that the coach used duct tape to tighten her skin. The lawsuit was filed on Friday with renowned women’s rights attorney Gloria Allred representing Rosa. Rosa stated that she decided to take legal action because the coach repeatedly referred to her as “skinny-fat,” a term implying she was thin but not muscular.
Rosa also disclosed that she faced belittlement and body-shaming on multiple occasions, with the coach criticizing her appearance and warning her to improve her physique if she wanted to continue performing as a cheerleader. On one occasion, just before the cheerleaders were about to go on the field, the coach asked Rosa to stay back in the locker room and threatened to suspend her from the team.
She recounted an incident where the coach applied Texans logo duct tape to her skin without her consent, causing discomfort and embarrassment. Despite feeling humiliated, she went on to perform on the field as instructed.
Before Rosa, five other former cheerleaders had also filed lawsuits against the Texans, alleging that they were not compensated for their work, faced bullying, and experienced sexual harassment. These lawsuits were filed in the Houston federal court.
According to the lawsuits, the cheerleaders were not paid for their appearances, including a trip overseas, and other job-related duties. They also did not receive compensation for food during the trip. The other cheerleaders involved in the lawsuits are Hannah Turnbow, Morgan Wiederhold, Ainsley Parish, Ashley Rodriguez, and Kelly Neuner.
Rosa revealed that she was training rigorously, working out twice a day, three to four times a week, and limiting her diet to popcorn in an effort to maintain her weight. She aspired to be a leader and role model for young girls, inspired by her own experiences as a young cheerleader.
