Ten former members of the USC Song Girls detailed a toxic culture within the program in an exclusive report by Ryan Kartje of the Los Angeles Times.
Per Kartje, the women discussed "a toxic culture within the famed collegiate dance team that included longtime former coach Lori Nelson rebuking women publicly for their eating habits, personal appearance and sex lives."
Kartje added the ex-dance squad members who spoke with the paper "faced serious body image issues within the program that went beyond normal fitness required to be on a spirit squad."
Three members said their time with the USC Song Girls led to "some form of eating disorder," and another woman experienced severe depression and considered taking her own life.