It’s not often the liberal media report on issues important to the values of conservatives and it isn’t often that they do it in a respectful way. But during Thursday’s CBS Evening News, the network put a spotlight on a case in Florida where former Miami Dolphins cheerleader Kristan Ware filed an official discrimination complaint against the organization saying she was harassed and made to feel unwanted because of her faith.
“As a Miami Dolphins' cheerleader, Kristan Ware was a fan favorite, but claims the league and the team discriminated against her because she was a Christian,” reporter Mireya Villarreal noted at the start of her report.
According to Ware’s statements in the interview with CBS, she wasn’t even allowed to mention God. “And I felt like I was walking on eggshells, but yet a football player can publically announce whatever he believes in,” the former cheerleader explained. “Whether it's kneeling for a political indifference or kneeling because he does have a relationship with God and he wants the pray before a game, he has a right to do that.”
Reading from the official complaint filed with the Florida Commission on Human Relations, Villarreal said that Ware was “’blatantly discriminated against based on her religion and gender,’ and there was pervasive and severe abuse and harassment by the team director.”
“My virginity got brought up, and I said, ‘you know, I am waiting for marriage.’ And they said, ‘well, as far as we're concerned, you have taken something that was once upon a time pure and beautiful and you've made it dirty,’” Ware recalled of the abuse.
And the league’s ridiculousness and double standards went beyond suppressing Ware’s Christian faith. “Ware is one of many NFL cheerleaders who are complaining about double standards tied to their weight, their wardrobe, and their conduct,” the CBS reporter. “If you're in a restaurant player, you have to leave if a football player comes in. If you're going to Wal-Mart, you have to be presentable just in case somebody recognized you and wanted a selfie,” Ware elaborated.
“I had to make the choice, you know, do I lay down the uniform, even though it's something that I love, or do I stay on the team and be silenced and basically turn my back on God,” Ware told Villarreal.
In wrapping up her report, Villarreal gave a detailed overview of where Ware’s case stood with the state of Florida, the Dolphins, and the NFL:
Ware quit before finishing her third year. The Dolphins say a supervisor was reprimanded and apologized to the cheerleading team for one of the incidents in this complaint. The NFL also says that everyone, including cheerleaders, has a right to a respectful and positive work environment free from harassment. Jeff, the state now has six months to finish their investigation.
CBS’s coverage of Ware’s religious discrimination case was respectful and deserves appreciation. Especially considering the whole kneeling controversy last season.
Transcript below, click "expand" to read:
CBS Evening News
April 12, 2018
6:47:07 PM Eastern [2 minutes 11 seconds]JEFF GLOR: She spent her Sundays on NFL sidelines cheering on the Miami Dolphins, but she says she was mistreated by the members of the football community because of her faith. Here's Mireya Villarreal.
[Cuts to video]
MIREYA VILLARREAL: As a Miami Dolphins' cheerleader, Kristan Ware was a fan favorite, but claims the league and the team discriminated against her because she was a Christian.
KRISTAN WARE: I got told things like, "You can't mention God." And I felt like I was walking on eggshell, but yet a football player can publically announce whatever he believes in. Whether its kneeling for a political indifference or kneeling because he does have a relationship with God and he wants the pray before a game, he has a right to do that.
VILLARREAL: According to a complaint filed with Florida Commission on Human Relations, Ware says she was “blatantly discriminated against based on her religion and gender,” and there was pervasive and severe abuse and harassment by the team director.
WARE: My virginity got brought up, and I said, “you know, I am waiting for marriage.” And they said, “well, as far as we're concerned, you have taken something that was once upon a time pure and beautiful and you've made it dirty.”
VILLARREAL: Ware is one of many NFL cheerleaders who are complaining about double standards tied to their weight, their wardrobe, and their conduct.
WARE: If you're in a restaurant player, you have to leave if a football player comes in. If you're going to Wal-Mart, you have to be presentable just in case somebody recognized you and wanted a selfie.
VILLARREAL: Bailey Davis, a former New Orleans Saints cheerleader, fired a complaint after she was fired for a social media post. Ware says her complaints the higher-ups weren't taken seriously. When you quit the team, you didn't tell anyone, you just stopped showing up. Why is that?
WARE: I had to make the choice, you know, do I lay down the uniform, even though it's something that I love, or do I stay on the team and be silenced and basically turn my back on God?
[Cuts back to live]
VILLARREAL: Ware quit before finishing her third year. The Dolphins say a supervisor was reprimanded and apologized to the cheerleading team for one of the incidents in this complaint. The NFL also says that everyone, including cheerleaders, has a right to a respectful and positive work environment free from harassment. Jeff, the state now has six months to finish their investigation.
GLOR: Okay. Mireya, thank you very much for that.
