Varsity threatens to sue 📝

Nov 07, 2022

Happy Monday everyone, we hope you've enjoyed your weekend! We've got some news about Varsity and their...business this week.

Learn why they are threatening to sue a law firm - and why some schools are now banned from attending their events.

Summary of this week:

Varsity threatens to sue law firm representing abuse victims in cheerleading
North Carolina school teams banned from competing at Varsity events
22-23 season showcase dates
Cheer Athletics coach John Davenport breaks down his 6 favorite routines
Poll results: how many coaches does your team have?
Team of the week: undefeated for 2 years!
& more!

Trigger/content warning: This section contains topics like sexual abuse. Please skip reading this if you need to.

Varsity threatens to sue law firm representing abuse victims in cheerleading

Here's the latest news about the lawsuits and cases of sexual abuse in cheerleading.

Want to learn more about the cases? Our reporting of them has been ongoing for months. Read our previous newsletters discussing the topics here (starting August 29).

Short version:

Varsity is threatening to sue the law firm representing multiple victims of sexual abuse.

Why? They argue that the law firm is "damaging the good reputation of Varsity."

Longer version:

Varsity has taken the help of an attorney called Tom Clare, who has sent a letter to the law firm representing 15 victims so far.

Here's a part of what he wrote:

“Varsity Spirit regrets that you and your firm—through your self-aggrandizing and relentless publicity-seeking—are obscuring the appropriate concern for survivors and instead seeking to keep the spotlight squarely on yourselves,” Clare wrote.

Basically, he is (on behalf of Varsity) saying that the victim's attorney is arrogant, doesn't care enough about the victims - and only wants attention...

Apparently, Varsity is "now “analyzing” potential defamation claims it could file against Sellers and his South Carolina-based firm for allegations they’ve made about the company in court pleadings and to the media."

What does that mean?

It means that Varsity might file a defamation lawsuit against the firm.

Defamation is "the action of damaging the good reputation of someone", aka "damaging the good reputation of Varsity" in this case.

Seems like they have been pretty good at damaging their own reputation, but what do we know..? 🫣

Read the full article & more from the letter here:

Varsity threatens defamation suit over cheer sex-abuse claims — www.sportico.com

The cheerleading giant has sent a cease-and-desist letter to Bakari Sellers, the lawyer representing alleged cheerleading sex abuse victims.

North Carolina school teams banned from competing at Varsity events

The school system in Wake County (North Carolina), has banned high school cheer teams from attending Varsity events.

"The Wake County school system is banning cheerleading teams from participating in events sponsored by a company that’s been named as a defendant in multiple sex abuse lawsuits.

On Friday, Wake informed high school cheerleading teams that they could no longer participate in Varsity Spirit events, including those that would allow them to qualify for the 2023 National High School Cheerleading Championship."

The reactions? Mixed... Many are upset and think it's unfair to the athletes. Others are happy that they are taking a stand against Varsity.

What do you think? Reply & let us know 💬

Read the full article here!