Attorneys general threaten to investigate NFL over work culture 'overtly hostile to women'


Six state attorneys general are threatening to investigate the NFL over its alleged "unacceptable and potentially unlawful" treatment of female employees.
The group of attorneys general penned a letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell expressing "grave concerns" over allegations that the league's workplace culture "is overtly hostile to women," citing a recent report in The New York Times.
The Times interviewed more than 30 women who have worked for the NFL, alleging the league's culture has "demoralized some female employees, drove some to quit in frustration and left many feeling brushed aside." The attorneys general raised concerns about a number of allegations, including that female employees "were subjected to repeated viewings" of a video of Ray Rice punching his fiancée, and that women were asked to self-identify as domestic violence victims.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"This is NOT doing better," the letter says. "Antidiscrimination laws in many states, including New York, prohibit employers from subjecting domestic violence victims, as well as women and people of color, to a hostile work environment."
The letter also cites the Times' reporting that a female employee alleged she was reprimanded for having an "aggressive tone" and that women were subjected to unwanted touching from bosses, attended work events where prostitutes were hired, and more. While the NFL "promised to take gender violence seriously and improve the institutional culture for women" after the Rice controversy in 2014, "these recent allegations suggest that you have not," the attorneys general said.
The letter was signed by New York Attorney General Letitia James (D), as well as attorneys general from Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Oregon, and Washington. They warn the NFL that the allegations are "entirely unacceptable and potentially unlawful," demanding the league "do better."
The NFL told the Times it shares the attorneys general's commitment to ensure its workplace is "diverse, inclusive and free from discrimination and harassment."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
Can Trump put his tariffs on stronger legal footing?
Today's Big Question Appeals court says 'emergency' tariffs are improper
-
Film reviews: The Roses, Splitsville, and Twinless
Feature A happy union devolves into domestic warfare, a couple's open marriage reaps chaos, and an unlikely friendship takes surprising turns
-
Thought-provoking podcasts you may have missed this summer
The Week Recommends Check out a true crime binger, a deep-dive into history and more
-
Florida erases rainbow crosswalk at Pulse nightclub
Speed Read The colorful crosswalk was outside the former LGBTQ nightclub where 49 people were killed in a 2016 shooting
-
Trump says Smithsonian too focused on slavery's ills
Speed Read The president would prefer the museum to highlight 'success,' 'brightness' and 'the future'
-
Trump to host Kennedy Honors for Kiss, Stallone
Speed Read Actor Sylvester Stallone and the glam-rock band Kiss were among those named as this year's inductees
-
White House seeks to bend Smithsonian to Trump's view
Speed Read The Smithsonian Institution's 21 museums are under review to ensure their content aligns with the president's interpretation of American history
-
Charlamagne Tha God irks Trump with Epstein talk
Speed Read The radio host said the Jeffrey Epstein scandal could help 'traditional conservatives' take back the Republican Party
-
CBS cancels Colbert's 'Late Show'
Speed Read 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' is ending next year
-
Shakespeare not an absent spouse, study proposes
speed read A letter fragment suggests that the Shakespeares lived together all along, says scholar Matthew Steggle
-
New Mexico to investigate death of Gene Hackman, wife
speed read The Oscar-winning actor and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead in their home with no signs of foul play