This Video of a Cheerleader Being Forced Into a Split Is Beyond Disturbing
A seriously disturbing video of a cheerleader being forced into a split is now being investigated by the Denver Police. In the video, a girl is shown screaming in pain while her coach physically forces her into an elevated split. It’s made more horrific by the fact several parents complained two months ago but were ignored by school officials.
The alarming footage was taken at a cheerleading training camp on June 15. Incoming Denver East High freshman Ally Wakefield is shown being forced into an elevated split by her new coach, Ozell Williams, while her teammates hold her arms and legs.
Wakefield can be heard begging her coach to “please stop,” in the footage that was sent to KUSA in Denver. The news station was sent videos of eight additional cheerleaders being forced into splits.
Cheerleader being forced into a split was caught on video and it’s hard to understand why it happened.
Ally’s mother, Kristen Wakefield, told the Today Show, “This is a grown man pushing my 13-year-old girl so hard against her will while she’s crying and screaming for him to stop that he’s ripping tissues in her body.”
Kristen Wakefield sent an email to the school’s athletic director on the day of the incident.
“I have attached a video of the forced splits she and her other team members were forced to do at cheerleading camp and practices; unless they had a doctor’s note. This is how Ally injured her leg. My husband and I would like to know what the administration is going to do about my daughter’s injury and how it happened.”
The administration’s answer? NOTHING, until KUSA ran their story. As a result, Denver Public Schools Superintendent Tom Boasberg placed East High’s Principal and Assistant Principal on leave. Coach Williams, his assistant coach, and the DPS Deputy General Counsel were also placed on leave. In a statement, Boasberg said that is “standard practice in an investigation of this type. It does not imply or prejudge in any way the actions of the individuals or what the investigation might determine.”
In regard to the footage of the cheerleaders, Boasberg said, “I cannot state strongly enough as the superintendent of the school district and as the father of two high school-aged daughters – that the images and actions depicted are extremely distressing and absolutely contrary to our core values as a public school community.”
Denver Police spokesman Sonny Jackson told BuzzFeed News that the department is aware of the incident and is looking into it.
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(Image: YouTube / KOAA 5)
