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The Washington Football Team is making another drastic change — the organization will feature a coed dance team in 2021 … ditching its cheerleading program for the first time in more than 50 seasons.
WFT’s new senior advisor Petra Pope made the announcement Tuesday, saying the “First Ladies of Football” — the longest-running cheer program in the NFL — will be replaced by a coed team for a more “modern and diverse” look.
“We want to be more inclusive, so we are going to invite a coed entity (to audition),” Pope said to USA TODAY Sports.
“We’re able to do more things with the strength of a male, and lifts, so that’s changed a great deal. The inclusivity, strength and interest of choreography has changed.”
Even though it’s a dance team, former cheerleaders will be allowed to try out for the new squad … which will consist of more than 36 members.
Of course, this change comes after several former cheerleaders made serious allegations in a Washington Post article last August … claiming staff members secretly recorded them naked while making a bikini calendar in 2008 and 2010.
The Post said a former staffer was told by the WFT’s lead broadcaster that the video was made for team owner Dan Snyder — a claim Snyder has adamantly denied.
WFT reportedly reached a settlement with the former cheerleaders in 2020.
The NFL is still investigating the WFT for multiple sexual harassment allegations.
With that, Pope says the dance team will not be doing any calendars.