Rockstar Cheer scandal: 6 more coaches named in lawsuit alleging sexual abuse of underaged cheerleaders at SC gym
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COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA: A prominent cheerleading gym in South Carolina is caught up in a lawsuit as the lawsuit alleges raging sexual assault of underage athletes by the coaches present at the facility. The lawsuit has now been amended to name six more coaches and three more accusers. The lawyers allege that sexual abuse could date back decades with more than 100 more victims who haven't come forward yet.
The federal lawsuit was filed on August 30, 2022, alleging that the victims were sexually abused by coaches at Rockstar Cheerleading and Dance in Greenville was amended on Thursday, September 16 as it has named six more coaches as three more accusers have come forward. As of now, no coaches have been charged and their names are kept under wraps, WSAV claims. The investigation is ongoing as State and federal law enforcement agencies have seized computers, cellphones, and other evidence as stated by one of the accusers’ lawyers, James Bannister, earlier this month.
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The lawsuit claims that the horrific abuse ranged from rape and forced oral sex to molestation and pressuring children. Athletes as young as 13 were forced to send nude photographs to their coaches. It also mentions that the coaches promptly gave alcohol and cannabis at their homes and in hotel rooms whenever there was a cheerleading competition. These allegations first mentioned the owner of the facility, Scott Foster, who was found dead on August 22, 2022. The cause of his death was a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
Rockstar Cheerleading and Dance sexual assault lawsuit names 6 more coaches
In a statement reported earlier this month by the local NBC affiliate WYFF, Foster's widow Kathy Foster said that the facility would ultimately close. She said, "Although this was a difficult decision, I believe it is the best option under the circumstances. Over the past 15 years, our incredible athletes have worked hard to build a winning legacy and I will always be extremely proud of each of them. I ask for privacy for my children and for those personally affected during this difficult time."
The suit also details the fact these athletes were also sexually assaulted outside of South Carolina during competitions that are sanctioned and monitored by Varsity Spirit the US All Star Federation. Varsity Spirit President Bill Seely addressed these accusations on September 2, 2022. He wrote, "These allegations are devastating to hear, and our hearts are broken alongside yours." The statement further read, "We are devastated for anyone who has been impacted by the egregious conduct and violation of trust."
A Message from our President, Bill Seely pic.twitter.com/oo64w1CPu3
— Varsity All Star (@VarsityAllStar) September 1, 2022
One of the plaintiffs’ lawyers, Bakari Sellers, said in a statement, "We’re talking about serious repeated abuse that was reported to everyone including the Greenville County Sheriff’s Department. For Varsity Spirit, the USASF, and Bain Capital, these survivors didn’t matter. Their checks did. They did nothing to stop this abuse then and they’re doing nothing now." Sellers also claimed to be in possession of a video that shows the late Scott Foster on Snapchat with beer bongs drinking with his underage cheerleaders.