In the summer of 2022, the Greenville, South Carolina community was shaken by the death of Scott Foster, a 49-year-old man known for co-founding the nationally recognized Rockstar Cheer gym. On August 22, Foster was found deceased in his vehicle at Paris Mountain State Park. The Greenville County Coroner's Office later confirmed that he had died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
His death, however, was soon enveloped in a much larger and more disturbing story.
At the time of his suicide, Foster was reportedly the focus of a multi-jurisdictional investigation into serious allegations of sexual misconduct involving underage athletes. News of the investigation began to surface publicly in the days following his death, revealing a dark side to the successful cheerleading empire he had built. Attorneys representing alleged victims stated that minors had been supplied with drugs and alcohol, sexually abused, and threatened into silence by Foster.
The unfolding scandal led to a federal lawsuit filed by four former female and two former male cheerleaders against Foster, Rockstar Cheer, and other associated organizations. The lawsuit detailed accusations of sexual abuse, alleging that Foster and other coaches had engaged in sexual activities with students, exchanged explicit photos via social media, and provided them with alcohol and marijuana. The lawsuit painted a picture of a toxic environment where the abuse was allegedly known and ignored by others within the organization. In the wake of these revelations, several Rockstar Cheer locations announced they would be disassociating from the brand name.
