Cowboys paid large settlement in 2015 amid voyeurism allegations against former executive Rich Dalrymple

The Dallas Cowboys reportedly paid a confidential settlement of $2.4 million after four members of the cheerleading squad accused senior team executive Rich Dalrymple of voyeurism at an event in 2015, ESPN reported via recently-obtained documents and "people with knowledge of the situation."

According to the report, each of the women received $399,523.27 after an incident in which Dalrymple was allegedly watching cheerleaders undress at an event at AT&T Stadium. One woman accused Dalrymple of hiding behind a wall in the locker room and aiming a cellphone at the cheerleaders as they changed.

Dalrymple was also accused of taking "upskirt" photos of Charlotte Jones Anderson, a team senior vice president and the daughter of team owner Jerry Jones, in the Cowboys' war room during the 2015 NFL Draft. The incident was discovered by a Cowboys fan watching draft footage online.

Despite paying the large settlement, the Cowboys told ESPN the team investigated both claims and found them both to be false.

"The organization took these allegations extremely seriously and moved immediately to thoroughly investigate this matter," Jim Wilkinson, a communications consultant for the team, said. "The investigation was handled consistent with best legal and HR practices and the investigation found no evidence of wrongdoing."

According to ESPN, Dalrymple's recent retirement came within "several weeks" of the outlet conducting interviews into the voyeurism allegations. (He stayed with the team another six years before the investigation into the allegations began.) The Cowboys reportedly did not make any mention of his retirement on the team's website. 

Dalrymple maintained in a statement that the allegations are false.

"People who know me, co-workers, the media and colleagues, know who I am and what I'm about," he said. "I understand the very serious nature of these claims and do not take them lightly. The accusations are, however, false. One was accidental and the other simply did not happen. Everything that was alleged was thoroughly investigated years ago, and I cooperated fully."

News of the allegations on Wednesday garnered a very strong response on social media, particularly because Dalrymple was allowed to stay working for the team following the incidents and settlement.

"It hurt my heart because I know how much it affected the people who were involved," a former cheerleader told ESPN. "It was a very ... 'shut the book, don't talk about it, this person is going to stay in his position' ... They just made it go away."