TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Cheerleaders from Super Basketball League (SBL) are the latest group of performers drawing criticism for wearing revealing outfits and making obscene movements to distract opposing players while shooting free throws.
Amid controversy over moves by cheerleaders from the P.League+ (PLG) last week, the cheerleading team for Changhua BLL, LuxyGirls, could be seen beneath the basket wearing skimpy outfits and striking sexual poses while opposing Taiwan Beer players shot free throws.
With about nine seconds left in a game between Changhua BLL and Taiwan Beer on Sunday (Feb. 26), Taiwan Beer player Su Pai-chang (蘇柏彰) was preparing to shoot a free throw. Two cheerleaders wearing short pink shorts can be seen dropping into the splits and twerking to try and distract Su.
LuxyGirls attempt to distract Taiwan Beer player at free throw line. (YouTube, Be Heroes screenshot)
One of the announcers jokingly said, "Now they are all going into the splits." Su missed the free throw and the announcer laughed as he said that the cheerleaders' moves may have affected his concentration.
LuxyGirls have been dubbed "Taiwan's first American-style cheerleading squad" and usually appear at Changhua BLL home games. Taiwanese actress Karen Hu's (胡盈禎) ex-husband and plastic surgeon Lee Chin-liang (李進良) originally signed the cheerleading group for NT$5 million (US$163,520), reported Liberty Times.
On Feb. 18, cheerleaders for the PLG's Formosa Taishin Dreamers drew criticism for provocative moves wearing schoolgirl uniforms with short skirts while Jeremy Lin and his teammates from the Kaohsiung 17Live Steelers shot free throws. On Feb. 20, the captain of the squad, Tzutzu (梓梓), issued an apology on her Instagram account which read: "In the future, we will make clearer norms for the girls. Thank you for your criticism and advice, and I am sorry for giving some fans a bad impression. We will work harder in the future."
LuxyGirls member warming up before game. (Instagram, LuxyGirls photo)
Some netizens believed the cheerleader's moves were excessive:
"Anyone would be distracted by this."
"Really vulgar."
"Really indecent, is this a basketball court or a meat market?"
"Who is going to apologize this time?"
"The cheerleaders turned into nightclub hostesses."
LuxyGirls member Natalia Manikhina stretches before game. (Instagram, LuxyGirls photo)
SBL has yet to respond to a request for comment from Taiwan News on the cheerleaders' controversial behavior on Sunday.
