NFL Accused of “Gender Discrimination” & Harboring “Hostile Work Environment”; New York Attorney General Launches Investigation

Whenever a big organization gets into legal trouble, it never goes unnoticed and when that organization turns out to be as big as the NFL, the world knows that a few feathers are going to get ruffled. Two attorney generals from different states launched an investigation against the league over several problematic claims. They contend that the league is allegedly to blame for the prevalence of s**ism, racism, and ageism in the workplace.

The attorney generals from California and New York joined the investigation into the league’s work culture on Thursday. They issued subpoenas against executives of one of the world’s richest sports leagues.

NFL might be in serious trouble

New York Attorney General Letitia James and California Attorney General Rob Bonta are Democrats. They said that they were not targeting the league’s 32 teams. Instead, they will investigate the league, specifically their corporate offices situated in New York and California.

𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲: The #NFL is facing investigation over hostile workplace allegations.

The attorneys general of New York and California announce that they are investigating allegations of workplace discrimination at the NFL.https://t.co/KsTYVZCjvx pic.twitter.com/erv3Y7GFhn

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) May 4, 2023

The investigation comes as a response to several complaints made by the league’s employees. The records point to, as published by ESPN, a “disturbing and concerning set of allegations about gender and racial discrimination in the NFL.” 

Apart from the lawsuits by former employees, the sources also include congressional hearings into the workplace practices of the Washington Commanders. Additionally, a New York Times article also released a detailed report in which it was revealed that as many as 30 former female NFL employees faced gender discrimination.

As expected, NFL denies all problematic claims made against them

In a statement provided to NPR, the NFL stated that it does not allow any form of discrimination and would fully assist with the investigation. But they called the allegations “entirely inconsistent with the NFL’s values and practices.”

“The NFL offices are places where employees of all genders, races and backgrounds thrive. We do not tolerate discrimination in any form,” league officials said in a statement. This is not the first time that the NFL has come under fire. Previously, the league had to face an inquiry from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

Former players had claimed that teams were mishandling prescription drugs. Similarly, the Commanders owner, Dan Snyder, and the commissioner of the league, Roger Goodell, were sued by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration for lying to fans about an investigation into s*xual misconduct and a hostile work environment.

The new investigation can tarnish the reputation of the league if the claims turn out to be true.