Rockstar Cheer, deceased founder named in law firms' sexual abuse allegations
Law firms in Greenville, Columbia and Charleston say they have clients who have come forward with allegations of exploitation and sexual abuse by former Rockstar Cheer coach and founder Scott Foster.
Foster, 49, was found dead in his vehicle with a gunshot wound on Aug. 22 at Paris Mountain State Park, according to the Greenville County Coroner’s Office. His death was ruled a suicide.
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The three firms have accused Foster and Rockstar Cheer, a competitive cheerleading gym, of abuse and exploitation, according to news releases from Bannister, Wyatt & Stalvey in Greenville, Strom Law Firm in Columbia, and McGrath Law Firm in Charleston.
Strom said in a news release that its attorneys represent multiple victims of sexual abuse. Bakari Sellers, an attorney with the firm, said Strom expected to file a lawsuit in the case later this week.
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"We're going to make sure that no more children are hurt," he told The Greenville News.
The operators of Rockstar Cheer's location in Greer could not be reached by telephone Monday. Phone calls were not answered, and the business' voicemail was full.
Kathy Foster, Scott Foster's widow, issued a statement Tuesday afternoon that was emailed by a representative.
"I am heartbroken by the recent allegations made by current and former athletes from Rockstar Cheer and other cheer gyms across our community," she said. "I hope the survivors are seeking and receive the support they need. I am sympathetic to their stories, and will cooperate with all involved to make sure our athletes learn and grow in a safe environment.
"At this time, I am focusing on providing needed support to my children, as they come to terms with the loss of their father."
In its news release, Strom said Scott Foster "was the subject of a multi-jurisdictional investigation being led by the Department of Homeland Security into allegations of sexual misconduct."
Reached by The Greenville News on Monday, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security would neither confirm nor deny any such investigation.
Scott Foster founded Rockstar Cheer with his wife in 2007 with the first location opening in Greer. According to its website, the gym started with 85 customers, and it now trains 14 all-star cheerleading teams in Greenville County. The teams compete nationwide.
When Foster died, 16 locations across the country were using the Rockstar Cheer name and brand. Ten of the gyms released a statement Monday afternoon dissociating themselves from Rockstar Cheer.
Their affiliation, they said, was limited only to "sharing the Rockstar brand and name," which "will both be changing, effective immediately."
"While our tie to Rockstar was always in name only, we are making this switch to clearly and totally disassociate our kids, their parents, and our instructors and staff from any association with behaviors that have absolutely nothing to do with who we are, or how we run our programs," the gyms said through the public relations firm Red Banyan.
Rockstar Cheer's Greer location falls within the jurisdiction of the Greenville County Sheriff's Office. The Sheriff's Office was not actively investigating Foster when he died, according to spokesperson Lt. Ryan Flood, though it has opened an investigation into his death.
Flood also said the Sheriff’s Office is neither involved in nor assisting any other agency’s investigation.
Attorneys from the Bannister and Strom law firms will hold a news conference Tuesday morning at Carroll Campbell U.S. Courthouse in Greenville to address the allegations against Foster and Rockstar Cheer.
Competitive cheerleading is no stranger to controversy.
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In 2017, Foster drew scrutiny when a video surfaced online of him with members of a Rockstar team drinking out of what appeared to be a beer bong.
In 2020, an investigation by USA TODAY uncovered "pervasive failures across the sport." Cheerleading's governing body, the U.S. All Star Federation, both "delayed investigations and failed to prevent those accused or convicted of crimes from working in member gyms," USA TODAY found.
In the case of Cheer Extreme, a program with gyms located throughout North Carolina, multiple coaches were banned from participating in USASF-sanctioned events after allegations of sexual abuse.
Kathryn Casteel is an investigative reporter with The Greenville News and can be reached at KCasteel@gannett.com or on Twitter @kathryncasteel.
Clare Amari is an investigative reporter for The Greenville News. You can reach her at camari@gannett.com or on Twitter @Amari_Clare.
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Rockstar cheer and founder Scott Foster subject of abuse claims
