COLUMBIA, S.C. — A federal lawsuit alleges that multiple cheerleading coaches in South Carolina sexually abused six boys and girls. The lawsuit also alleged that the coaches provided the girls and boys with drugs and alcohol.
According to The Associated Press, the lawsuit was filed on Thursday by four girls and two boys who said they were allegedly abused by Scott Foster, 49, and other people affiliated with Rockstar Cheer of Greenville. The lawsuit also alleged that there may be 100 other survivors who were abused.
Foster was found dead on August 22 in his car at a state park, according to the AP. The Greenville County Coroner’s Office ruled that Foster had shot himself in the head, said the AP.
The lawsuit claimed that multiple people were aware of the abuse but they either ignored it or were unable to report it being that there were no guidelines in place to do so, according to the AP. The lawsuit alleged that Foster and other unnamed coaches had sexual intercourse with cheer students. It also said that they sent and requested explicit photos, gave the students alcohol and marijuana at their houses as well as in hotel rooms during cheer competitions. The lawsuit also claimed that Foster and the other coaches warned the students not to tell anyone, said the AP.
According to the AP, the lawsuit also named Varsity Brands, which is who runs the cheerleading competitions; the U.S. All-Star Federation, which is the organizing and governing body for competitive cheerleading nationwide; Bain Capital, which purchased Varsity Brands in 2018, plus others.
Varsity Brands President Bill Seely told the AP that the accusations are devastating. Bain Capital did not return a comment to the AP.
Rockstar Cheer has gyms in multiple states including Arizona, Georgia, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and South Carolina. Ten of the gyms in a statement to the AP said that their gyms had no connection to Foster and are planning to change their brand name.