Former Northwestern University cheerleader withdraws sexual assault lawsuit

By Stacy Friedman, Hector Carrion

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CHICAGO (WBBM) — A former cheerleader has dropped her sexual assault lawsuit against Northwestern University in federal court.

Hayden Richardson filed a lawsuit in 2021, claiming that drunken fans and alumni groped her at school events in 2018 and 2019.

She said she was told that part of cheerleaders' job was to present themselves as “sex objects” at alumni events to please wealthy donors.

Richardson said she complained to her coach and then to the assistant athletic director and was told to gather evidence to prove her case. Richardson said she received statements from teammates who said the same thing — but she was accused of falsifying evidence.

She then filed a 58-page lawsuit in federal court.

“[T]Their positions on the team were conditioned on pleasuring and groping wealthy older men and drunken fans in order to raise funds for the university and support Northwestern football,” the lawsuit states.

It was unclear why Richardson withdrew the lawsuit on Tuesday of this week.

Northwestern issued the following statement: “Since Hayden Richardson's lawsuit was filed over three years ago, Northwestern has been steadfast in its insistence that her claims should be dismissed. It has now voluntarily withdrawn its lawsuit against all defendants. The university is committed to creating an environment in which all members of our community are safe and secure and free from discrimination or harassment in any form.”

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