SC cheerleading gym at center of sex abuse lawsuits to close ‘indefinitely’
The embattled Greenville cheerleading gym Rockstar Cheer announced Wednesday that it was closing.
“Last night I announced that Rockstar Cheerleading and Dance is closing its doors indefinitely.” said Kathy Foster in a statement reported by WISTV Wednesday. “Although this was a difficult decision, I believe it is the best option under the circumstances.”
Foster is Rockstar’s co-founder and widow of Scott Foster, who is accused of sexually abusing several athletes.
“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,” said Foster.
Scott and Kathy Foster founded Rockstar Cheer and Dance in Greenville in 2017. The couple would go on to be heavily involved with coaching at the gym. Once a cheerleading powerhouse with franchises around the country, Rockstar has endured national controversy since Scott Foster killed himself on Aug. 22.
The Greenville County Coroner’s Office stated that Foster died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound inside of Paris Mountain State Park. Foster had just learned that he was the subject of a Homeland Security investigation, according to a lawsuit filed by the Strom Law Firm.
Within weeks, both Greenville attorney, James Bannister and the Strom Law Firm filed civil lawsuits against Foster, the gym, and Kathy Foster alleging that Scott Foster and coaches routinely sexually abused athletes.
In the lawsuit filed by the Strom Law Firm, Foster is alleged to have used his position in the cheerleading world to receive sexual favors from underage athletes and groomed underage athletes with alcohol and questions about their sex life.
The lawsuit alleges that Scott Foster oversaw a hard partying culture at Rockstar, where alcohol and drugs were “readily available,” and he turned a blind eye to coaches sexually abusing athletes, many of whom paid thousands of dollars a year to train at the gym.
This story was originally published September 7, 2022 at 2:54 PM.