America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders landed on Netflix last weekend and has left viewers glued to their seats.
The docu-series gives an insight into the famous cheerleading squad, showing everything from the audition process to training camps to their rehearsals.
Throughout the show, viewers see a number of girls trying out for the 2023 team as they are all attempting to follow their dream of wearing the iconic uniform.
The show follows 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.”
At the core of the show is Kelli Finglass, who has been the squad’s director since 1991 and leads the recruitment.
Greg Whiteley, the creator of Cheer and Last Chance U, directed and produced the seven-episode series.
Speaking on the show, he said: “What you are meant to do, paradoxically, is be the most stunning, beautiful creature that has ever walked the earth and not do anything that would distinguish yourself from your teammates.”
While watching the episodes, many viewers were shocked by one revelation about the iconic squad – how much the cheerleaders are paid.
During one episode, Chief Brand Officer Charlotte Jones said that there is a lot of “cynicism” around pay for NFL cheerleaders.
“They’re not paid a lot but the facts are that they actually don’t come here for the money. They come here for something that’s actually bigger than that to them,” she said.
She continued: “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.”
She added the women become Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders because it’s their passion and they get to be a part of the sisterhood – not because it pays well.
Most cheerleaders on the squad have second jobs such as nurses or sales representatives.
One woman who was on the team described the pay as the same as a “full-time Chick-fil-A worker.”
Viewers were shocked by how little the cheerleaders are paid – insisting it isn’t fair for the time and work it takes to be on the team.
Many further criticised the excuse given for the wage as it was justified by the girls being there because of a dream not to make money.
Taking to X, they expressed their thoughts.
Not sure what’s happening at Netflix lately but the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders doc could be an even bigger backfire than Baby Reindeer.
I hope the end result is the women getting paid properly. And I hope they are getting paid for this doc. pic.twitter.com/9D4jeXQhft
— Nina Sawetz (@NinaSawetz) June 22, 2024
Charlotte Jones acknowledging and validating #AmericasSweethearts low pay because it’s a “dream” to even make the Dallas cowboys cheerleaders team is so gross. Yall should be lifting women up. Not perpetuating the cycle. pic.twitter.com/9CMYHAwMhM
— ★ℰℳ★ (@mrsmemilybemily) June 22, 2024
The most infuriating thing about the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders documentary isn’t the ridiculous beauty standards, it’s the fact they pay them a pittance so they have to work second jobs, while the footballers are paid millions. The women are just as much athletes as the men.
— Catherine Lux (@luxlifeblog) June 20, 2024
The way that the @dallascowboys so proudly boast about paying their cheerleaders nothing, while they work upwards 12-15 hours a day and break their bodies doing jump splits is pretty pathetic. I’m sure the people at the top do it for the pride and sisterhood too… @netflix #dcc pic.twitter.com/OBNenmkRAt
— Zoey with a y (@ZoeyDanielson) June 21, 2024
When the female owner of the Dallas Cowboys is defending paying their cheerleaders as much as fast food workers because they get a “sisterhood” and find their “life purpose” doing it…And we all know that’s priceless 😐 @dallascowboys #AmericasSweethearts #payyourathletes
— Alison (@_AlisonMaria) June 21, 2024
The Dallas Cowboys franchise bragging about their cheerleaders being money makers & refusing to pay them a livable wage is nothing short of exploitation. Charlotte Jones should be ashamed. #DallasCowboys #DCC #netflix
— kims_so_fancy (@kimberly1261) June 25, 2024
I thought being an NFL cheerleader was the full time job?
Like what do you mean they are full time nurses and orthodontists and sales people and then cheer for the Dallas Cowboys essentially for fun and a minimum wage??? WILD
— *Not actually Talla (@realitytvplease) June 22, 2024
