The NFL has a brand-new way to get celebrities onto the field — and comedian Atsuko Okatsuka just kicked it off in style. The league introduced its Celebrity Guest Cheerleaders initiative this week, with Okatsuka performing alongside the L.A. Rams cheerleaders during Monday Night Football at SoFi Stadium.
Atsuko Okatsuka with the Rams Cheerleaders (Credits: Ryan Hadji / Los Angeles Rams)
It was just before halftime of the Rams’ Monday night matchup with the Buffalo Bills when Okatsuka, a native Angeleno, stood in the tunnel hyping herself up. Less than a minute later, she strutted onto the field to dance with the Rams squad. She later admitted she was “super nervous” — after all, it had been nearly 20 years since she last shook her poms as a high school cheerleader. Her routine lasted all of 45 seconds, but the Rams’ verdict was clear: “Absolutely SLAYED.”
The Joke That Started It All
The idea reportedly came from a bit in Okatsuka’s 2025 Hulu stand-up special “Father,” where she jokes that former cheerleaders are “hiding in plain sight” and calls them out with a special roll call. “Ready?” she yells into the mic, as her audience echoes back, “OK!”
Kurt Gies, the Rams’ director of social media and influencers, said the fit was obvious. “When the NFL introduced us to Atsuko, we knew it would be a great fit, particularly given her roots in Los Angeles and her background as a former cheerleader.”
Part of the NFL’s Celebrity Guest Push
The cheerleader initiative is the latest extension of the league’s “Celebrity Guest” series, which launched last year with stars like Jerry Rice, Simone Biles, Suni Lee, Method Man, Common, Joel McHale, Ken Griffey Jr., Benson Boone, and Marshawn Lynch working as sideline photographers during games.
“Our approach to fan engagement is rooted in finding new ways to bring the NFL into the broader cultural conversation,” said Rob Santini, NFL VP of global culture, social and entertainment. “Creating opportunities for entertainers and cultural voices to experience the NFL in unexpected ways.”
After her performance, Okatsuka shared a heartfelt dedication on Instagram. Born in Taiwan and raised in Los Angeles after moving from Japan at age eight, she wrote: “I dedicate my performance to all my fellow immigrant kids out there who are wondering if this country is for them. We’re on the main stage.”
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Source: Variety — read the full story there.
