Washington, D.C. — The American Economic Liberties Project released the following statement in support of a new class-action lawsuit: Fusion Elite All Stars v. Varsity Brands, et al. The suit, filed on behalf of Fusion Elite All Stars and a future class of All-Star cheerleading gyms, challenges Varsity Brands’ efforts to monopolize the All-Star cheerleading competitions and apparel markets:

“Antitrust regulators have failed to protect cheerleaders, their families and coaches, and the smaller businesses that participate in the industry from Varsity Brands’ quest for market power and the widespread exploitation and abuse that results from it,” said Economic Liberties’ Executive Director Sarah Miller. “This Bain Capital-owned behemoth owns and controls nearly all cheerleading competitions, coerces cheerleaders and gyms to buy their products, and imposes fear of retaliation across the cheerleading community. We hope this suit brings them the relief they deserve.”

Listen to Economic Liberties’ Director of Research Matt Stoller talk about Varsity’s monopoly over cheerleading on NPR here.

Read the complaint filed by Berger Montague PC, Cuneo Gilbert & LaDuca, and Justice Catalyst Law here.

Learn more about Economic Liberties here.

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Economic Liberties works to ensure America’s system of commerce is structured to advance, rather than undermine, economic liberty, fair commerce, and a secure, inclusive democracy. AELP believes true economic liberty means entrepreneurs and businesses large and small succeed on the merits of their ideas and hard work; commerce empowers consumers, workers, farmers, and engineers instead of subjecting them to discrimination and abuse from financiers and monopolists; foreign trade arrangements support domestic security and democracy; and wealth is broadly distributed to support equitable political power.