Very Disturbing Lawsuit Against Rockstar Cheer,Varsity,etc.

[WEDWDW]

With the many Cheer events held by Varsity at ESPN WWoS,it is sad to think some of the abuse could have taken place at Disney World.

The depravity of some never ceases to amaze.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crim...sedgntp&cvid=a357a7d7adac475e96f52629cb8a7427

 

[GAN]

Sad story, but it’s not as if because someone is on Disney property, abuse miraculously ends. Unfortunately, abuse in all forms occurs on Disney property….. and everywhere else you could imagine.

 

[Snap Crackle Pop]

This is so sad, I really hope that those who are effected by this get the help they need.

 

[NotUrsula]

Honestly, it doesn't surprise me. The risk of this sort of thing is really high when you get a sport dominated by for-profit companies, and most of competitive cheer is. There is a real incentive to cover up abuses in order to protect profits.

Many sports cultures will practice some selective blindness to protect people's reputations, but when you throw the opportunity to make a lot of money off amateur athletes' families into the mix, the pressure to turn a blind eye undoubtedly increases exponentially. Add to that the social cachet that cheer has in so many US communities, and it's almost a perfect storm.

Which is not to say I excuse it; no way no how. As the parent of a young athlete, I hope everyone responsible for this rots in hell.

 

[WEDWDW]

Honestly, it doesn't surprise me. The risk of this sort of thing is really high when you get a sport dominated by for-profit companies, and most of competitive cheer is. There is a real incentive to cover up abuses in order to protect profits.

Many sports cultures will practice some selective blindness to protect people's reputations, but when you throw the opportunity to make a lot of money off amateur athletes' families into the mix, the pressure to turn a blind eye undoubtedly increases exponentially. Add to that the social cachet that cheer has in so many US communities, and it's almost a perfect storm.

Which is not to say I excuse it; no way no how. As the parent of a young athlete, I hope everyone responsible for this rots in hell.

Many are saying that Bill Seely had to know something.

He hosted a few events at ESPN WWoS we attended and it is just so upsetting to think it is possible that while he was up on stage talking about the dedicated Athletes,he knew the whole time what was happening.

Hopefully that is not the case but your post lays out definite reasons it could be.

 

[LuvOrlando]

What a horrible story. Why adults who are around kids aren't continuously vetted is beyond my comprehension. Glad the guy is gone, filthy freak.

Sad story, but it’s not as if because someone is on Disney property, abuse miraculously ends. Unfortunately, abuse in all forms occurs on Disney property….. and everywhere else you could imagine.

This is an incredibly tone deaf response.

 

[GAN]

What a horrible story. Why adults who are around kids aren't continuously vetted is beyond my comprehension. Glad the guy is gone, filthy freak.


This is an incredibly tone deaf response.

I’m not sure what’s tone deaf about it. People shouldn’t be abused in houses of worship either… but they are. The fact that they may have participated at Disney has no impact on the fact that they were abused -it’s not as if Disney fostered the abuse like the church.

 

[luv2cheer92]

Scott Foster has been doing incredibly shady and creepy stuff for years, and it has been very public knowledge in the cheer world. It's unfortunate that nothing was ever truly done and that his suspension and the gym's probation weren't taken seriously by USASF.
This has been an ongoing issue in the cheer community, particularly all star cheer as that is an "easier" avenue for these people, for as long as I can remember. This is happening way more than most probably think. We are all hoping that change can finally happen.

 

[LuvOrlando]

I’m not sure what’s tone deaf about it. People shouldn’t be abused in houses of worship either… but they are. The fact that they may have participated at Disney has no impact on the fact that they were abused -it’s not as if Disney fostered the abuse like the church.

What is tone deaf is the focus, most people are focused on the kids and their terrible pain while you are preoccupied with venue and are now deflecting - not sure why but your target is off.

 

[EACarlson]

What a horrible story. Why adults who are around kids aren't continuously vetted is beyond my comprehension. Glad the guy is gone, filthy freak.

Money. How often are you going to run background checks? At $40/pop, that could add up. Nothing will show up on them until the offender gets caught.

My second job is with the local school district and I work as a youth softball umpire so I get checked every year by both of the organizations I belong to. Never really had any training in observing and reporting until I signed up to do hockey this year. If you work as a coach, official or volunteer for any of the governing bodies of olympic sports you have to have that training. I think that training should be mandatory for everyone in youth sports/activities.

I don't think these things are happening more, I think they're getting reported on more, and a wider reporting. I knew teammates in 1993 that got abused by our baseball coach, one 20 second hit on the local news.

 

[luv2cheer92]

Money. How often are you going to run background checks? At $40/pop, that could add up. Nothing will show up on them until the offender gets caught.

My second job is with the local school district and I work as a youth softball umpire so I get checked every year by both of the organizations I belong to. Never really had any training in observing and reporting until I signed up to do hockey this year. If you work as a coach, official or volunteer for any of the governing bodies of olympic sports you have to have that training. I think that training should be mandatory for everyone in youth sports/activities.

I don't think these things are happening more, I think they're getting reported on more, and a wider reporting. I knew teammates in 1993 that got abused by our baseball coach, one 20 second hit on the local news.

Background checks are required by all coaches, as well as athletes that are 18 or older by the USASF. But like you said, nothing comes up until they are caught/charged.

However, the USASF has a list of banned and suspended coaches, the particular coach in this case has been on that list since 2017, and nothing had been done. Which is a whole other issue.

 

[GAN]

What is tone deaf is the focus, most people are focused on the kids and their terrible pain while you are preoccupied with venue and are now deflecting - not sure why but your target is off.

the OP’s post was focused on the fact that some of it may have occurred on Disney property. My point is it could have happened anywhere -possibly at Disney doesn’t change the fact that they were abused. It doesn’t affect my view of Disney’s image as they have no ties to these cheer organizations beyond offering a venue -which is what I believed the OP was getting at.

 

[WEDWDW]

Scott Foster has been doing incredibly shady and creepy stuff for years, and it has been very public knowledge in the cheer world. It's unfortunate that nothing was ever truly done and that his suspension and the gym's probation weren't taken seriously by USASF.
This has been an ongoing issue in the cheer community, particularly all star cheer as that is an "easier" avenue for these people, for as long as I can remember. This is happening way more than most probably think. We are all hoping that change can finally happen.

Do you think Bill Seely had to have at least some knowledge and looked the other way?

Do you think we are just seeing the "tip of the iceberg" of how far-reaching abuse in competitive cheer could be?

Disgusting.

 

[Moliphino]

I worked at the big Cheersport event a few times in college and this does not really surprise me. I found a lot of what I saw there offputting - the oversexualized young girls and the male coaches that were way too into it.

 

[NotUrsula]

Background checks are required by all coaches, as well as athletes that are 18 or older by the USASF. But like you said, nothing comes up until they are caught/charged.

However, the USASF has a list of banned and suspended coaches, the particular coach in this case has been on that list since 2017, and nothing had been done. Which is a whole other issue.

Yes, but that's putting the fox in charge of the henhouse, because Varsity really funds & controls USASF, and Varsity's raison d'etre is making money-LOTS of money. I wouldn't trust USASF as far as I could throw them if I were you.

I think there is a slim possibility that Disney's relationship with Varsity could come under scrutiny, but only in the anti-trust component of this investigation. I suspect the Feds might look closely at the terms under which the special gym at WWoS was financed & constructed.

 

[TheIncredibles!]

What is tone deaf is the focus, most people are focused on the kids and their terrible pain while you are preoccupied with venue and are now deflecting - not sure why but your target is off.

I took the response as basically stating that location is irrelevant, it's just sad everywhere it happens.

the OP’s post was focused on the fact that some of it may have occurred on Disney property. My point is it could have happened anywhere -possibly at Disney doesn’t change the fact that they were abused. It doesn’t affect my view of Disney’s image as they have no ties to these cheer organizations beyond offering a venue -which is what I believed the OP was getting at.

Although I don't think the op's post was focused on it being at Disney, just a comment that it was sad if it happened there. But as all victims know...it's really sad everywhere it happens. It was just an offhand comment and your comment was an offhand comment back. Neither were offensive or tone deaf IMO. Just comments.

 

[TheIncredibles!]

Background checks are required by all coaches, as well as athletes that are 18 or older by the USASF. But like you said, nothing comes up until they are caught/charged.

However, the USASF has a list of banned and suspended coaches, the particular coach in this case has been on that list since 2017, and nothing had been done. Which is a whole other issue.

Larry Nasser... What a disgusting piece of an excuse of a human being that got away with it for such a long time because he choose and groomed his victims well. There had to have been disturbing signs as a child or before he got into coaching at some point. Right???

 

[LuvOrlando]

the OP’s post was focused on the fact that some of it may have occurred on Disney property. My point is it could have happened anywhere -possibly at Disney doesn’t change the fact that they were abused. It doesn’t affect my view of Disney’s image as they have no ties to these cheer organizations beyond offering a venue -which is what I believed the OP was getting at.

I understand, I took the OP's post to be more of an expression of horror that nowhere is safe. Sadly, predators tend to be drawn to the places where vulnerable prey collect, this is true in all things.

 

[luv2cheer92]

Do you think Bill Seely had to have at least some knowledge and looked the other way?

Do you think we are just seeing the "tip of the iceberg" of how far-reaching abuse in competitive cheer could be?

Disgusting.

100% to all the above unfortunately.

 

[WEDWDW]

100% to all the above unfortunately.

How incredibly sad.

ROCKSTAR has closed "indefinitely".

INDEFINITELY!!!!-it should be burned to the ground!

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crim...scott-foster-lawsuits-allegations/ar-AA11yZ1y