When the Spotlight Hits: Navigating Cheer Twitter, Rumors, and the Rise of MCC

Lately there’s been a wave of attention circling the cheer world—especially on platforms like TikTok and X (aka “Cheer Twitter”). You may have seen the viral videos calling out the toxicity of gossip accounts like cheerfessions, or even heard your own kids mention rumors being spread online.

Let’s address it head-on: as your name rises, so do the haters.

False Rumors, Fast Reactions

This past season, our athletes were enjoying a team lunch when some of them received texts from friends asking if our coaches were “starting a new gym.” We were surprised—but not shocked. Rumors travel fast when you’re on the rise.

Within two hours, we had:

• Issued a public statement clarifying that our coaches are here, committed, and not going anywhere.

• Spoken directly with the owner of the new gym to clear up confusion.

• Moved forward with grace and clarity.

Let’s Clear Up the Ownership Question

MCC was founded by Leslie Del Toro in 2014. Her daughter, Peyton Del Toro, joined as a coach immediately after high school, balancing coaching with pursuing her PhD at MSU and OSU. After the COVID-19 pandemic, a third owner became briefly involved, but she chose to leave the program in June 2024.

Since then, wild stories have circulated about her departure. While we can’t speak in detail yet—for legal reasons—we can say this:

The past year has tested us in every possible way. But now, with our footing regained, MCC has never had a stronger foundation, a healthier culture, or a more promising future.

What we’re building—what we’re offering our athletes and families—has been shaped, tested, and refined over more than a decade of deep commitment to this sport and community. Our work, most of which the internet never sees, speaks for itself.

We’ve Endured—And We’re Still Here

We’ve faced injury, mental health crises, and real disappointments. But we are still here. And if this anonymous poster had witnessed the resilience of this community—athletes, coaches, parents alike—they wouldn’t say such cruel and careless things about our season.

So What Do We Do With Tweets, DMs, and Gossip?

Don’t engage.

Not because we’re weak—because we’re wise.

There’s real research behind this approach. According to polyvagal theory and contemporary neuroscience, exposure to anonymous online bullying activates the amygdala, your brain’s fear center. Your body enters a fight-flight-freeze state. Logic, compassion, and executive function go offline.

You can’t reason with trolls. You can only refuse to feed them.

A Real Example: Brandon Senior Black (April 2025)

This season, athletes from Brandon Senior Black (BSB) were falsely accused of running a now-infamous Twitter/X account, @favecheer. Though the account posted “positive” content about BSB, it tore down other gyms—prompting people online to assume BSB athletes were behind it.

What followed was a digital witch hunt:

• Edited screenshots went viral.

• Minors were harassed publicly.

• Narratives were decided before facts were verified.

BSB launched an internal investigation, involved legal counsel, and turned over evidence to law enforcement—who found no link between the athletes and the account. But by the time the truth emerged, the damage was done. This is exactly the kind of digital toxicity we want to protect our families from.

MCC’s Digital Boundaries for Athletes & Supporters

• Do not reply.

• Do not repost.

• Do not send it to your friends.

• Do talk to a trusted adult if you’re feeling upset or confused.

Sharing harmful content—even to mock it—only gives it power. Let’s cut off its oxygen.

Parents: Here’s How to Help

Your athlete might come home and say, “Someone said this on Twitter,” or “I saw a TikTok that…”

Here’s your script:

• Stay calm and ask, “What do you think is true?”

• Re-anchor them: “Who are we? And who are you?”

• Reframe the power: strangers on the internet < the people in your corner.

A Note to the Trolls

And one more thing—for those who feel the need to spread hate online:

Consider this your warning.

We are a cheer program, yes. But we are also a community of fiercely protective coaches, parents, and leaders. When you come for our athletes—especially anonymously, dishonestly, and publicly—you are targeting children. And we will always respond in the way that is safest, smartest, and strongest: with documentation, with boundaries, and with legal action when necessary.

We are not afraid to defend our program. We’re just wise enough to do it the right way.

We’ve reached a level of recognition and international respect where people feel the need to talk. And while they do, we’ll be over here—coaching kids, building futures, and rising higher every day.