"Could it be hazing?": Austin Peay cheerleading allegations speculation trends online 

Austin Peay State University is making headlines after it was revealed that their entire cheerleading squad was indefinitely suspended. The team comprises of a total of 25 members. Since the announcement, netizens have taken to social media to speculate the reason behind the deferment.

Gerald Harrison, the Austin Peay athletics director, made the announcement public. He revealed that the university was made aware of potential violations made by the cheerleading squad. In a statement, the athletics department announced:

“Austin Peay State University is suspending operations of its cheerleading team until further notices. While the university investigates the allegations, the cheerleading team and staff will not be permitted to represent the university or athletics department at future events.”

The dance team and the mascot were not suspended at the time of writing this article. The exact reason behind the suspension was not made clear at the time of writing this article.

Gerald Harrison explained that the investigation is underway and that the university does not want to speculate on the reason behind the suspension. Harrison said:

“Our investigation is still in its infancy so I don’t want to speculate where it would lead to, or could lead to. We have to let the process run its course and let dedicated professionals that deal with these issues deal with it. If that takes a day or two then it takes a day or two. If it takes four weeks then it takes four weeks. I don’t know and I’m not rushing them for a judgment.”

---

Netizens react to Austin Peay State University’s cheerleading controversy

Since the specifics of the alleged violations remain unclear, netizens went on to make their own assumptions about the same. Many were quick to believe that hazing took place amongst the cheering squad.

For those unversed, hazing is an action that happens on or off campus where junior students are placed in mental or physical discomfort, harassed and/or ridiculed by their superior students. Aside from the hazing speculation, netizens also assumed that the cheerleaders were taking part in substance abuse.

As aforementioned, it is important to remember that the exact reason behind the cheerleaders being suspended has not been revealed.

It was also announced that the alleged violations are not being investigated by the school’s athletic department. This seems to hint that the matter at hand is incredibly sensitive, leading to higher authorities having to look into the transgression.

---

Austin Peay State University cheerleading squad controversy mirrors Navarro College cheer team debacle

Those involved in the cheerleading world may find the Austin Peay University cheerleaders scandal synonymous to Navarro College’s cheer team controversy.

In recent days, cheerleaders La’Darius Marshall and Gabi Butler have amassed massive traction after the latter’s blackface incident came to light. The drama unfolded in December 2022 when Butler was accused of doing blackface in a hazing initiation ritual.

She was quick to be exposed for her actions and went on to apologize by claiming that she had not “heard of blackface.” She also attempted to defend herself by saying that people of color also participated in blackface.

However, La’Darius Marshall blatantly denied the same and continued to throw shade at Butler endlessly in a series of TikTok videos.