Lexi's 'bad behaviour' and Gabi Butler's parents: 4 details in Netflix's Cheer that aren't entirely accurate.

If you’re anything like me, you’ve spent the days since you finished Netflix cheerleading documentary series Cheer devouring any content from the Navarro athletes you can find, stalking them on Instagram and wondering what life would be like if you could tumble like Lexi.

It really is that good.

The six-episode docuseries profiles a few select cheerleaders and their dedicated coach, Monica Aldama as they prepare for the 2019 National Cheer Association (NCA) Junior College Division National Championships and five Grand National Titles in competition at Daytona Beach, Florida.

Watch the trailer for Netflix’s Cheer and you’ll instantly understand the hype. Post continues below video.

It’s inspiring, thrilling, edge-of-your-seat type stuff, and if you make it through the six episodes without crying… I don’t believe you.

But like practically everything entertainment, some aspects of the story have been changed or embellished for dramatic effect. No, it’s not the moves – the Navarro cheerleaders really did nail that pyramid – but well, these details aren’t quite as they seemed:

Lexi’s rave scene happened before she was kicked off the team.

In the final episode we learn that Lexi Brumback was removed from Navarro after being found in a car with illegal substances.

Her final scene sees her at a rave, while voice overs speak about her ‘bad decisions’. But it turns out the rave scene was filmed months before Daytona.

“They made it look like that’s all I was doing when I left, and that’s not the case,” Lexi told Entertainment Tonight.

She said she was “raving the whole time” she was at Navarro. It was about having fun, not making bad choices.

“It was like it was bad and about making bad decisions. They even put that quote in the rave scene and I was like, ‘that’s so messed up!’ It’s not about making bad decisions, it’s about being in an atmosphere and listening to good music and enjoying yourself.”

Instead of heading down a dark path, Lexi enrolled in another school after leaving Navarro before being given a second chance by Monica.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Honey, I’m home ???????? #fiofmu

A post shared by Lexi Brumback (@lexisbrumback) on Jan 14, 2020 at 8:47pm PST

She’s now back at Navarro for the 2019-20 season.

Lexi also doesn’t vape that much.

Lexi’s vape was a full-time cast member during the six episodes, but on Instagram she said she really didn’t expect that.

“I wish I knew,” she said in response to a fan asking why she was seen vaping so much on the show.

“I did not expect them to make me look like I’m heavily addicted to vaping because I’m really not.”

Official Daytona footage could have been included.

The docuseries does not feature professional footage of the team’s performance at Daytona. The sixth episode features the disclaimer “Varsity Spirit denied our crew access to the College Nationals Competition”, stating that all footage from the event was captured by attendees and members of the Navarro team.

Varsity Spirit does not allow outside production teams to film at the event because it is an unnecessary distraction for the athletes, but it attempted to come to a compromise with the Netflix team, offering them use of Varsity's own professional footage, according to TMZ and a tweet from its Vice President Justin Carrier.

Thanks to this show, every acquaintance from high school has reached and wants to go to Daytona with me in April. LOL I’ve always touted how much I love my job and I think a lot more people understand why now. pic.twitter.com/XyCJrzJluP

— Justin Carrier (@JustinCarrier) January 23, 2020

No word on why the docuseries opted not to take this deal, but we're honestly sort of glad we didn't have to see that ankle injury in HD, profesh footage.

Gabi's parents aren't that bad.

Well, that's according to Gabi Butler herself.

After watching the show, viewers took to social media to talk about how Gabi's parents came across as overbearing and well, a lot, during the series (in one episode, her mum even recommends she eat jackfruit which would allegedly keep her full for 12 hours).

After the Netflix release, Gabi shared a message to Twitter asking her community to stop the negativity towards them.

"My parents are amazing and have always been there for me," she said.

"Every time I have made money for cheer opportunities it has gone into my own account... They are my biggest support system and have helped me to be on the top of my game".

Something important that I need to share. If there is anything I want people to take away from this new show, it is my desire to see our cheer family and community be positive with each other, especially on social media. The world has too much hate already. Let's be different!❤ pic.twitter.com/DhhKWUlEXs

— ???????????????? ???????????????????????? (@GabiButlerCheer) January 9, 2020

She told Ellen during an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show watching the series was a "really big eyeopener" for her whole family.

"My parents were like, 'Wow, maybe we do need to let her be more independent and let her make her own decisions for herself,'" Gabi said.

"I really just think that it was great because I really started to love myself more and being like, I need to be more positive about myself. I'm very grateful for the show."

As for the rest of the series?

Well, the cast say they're happy with how they were portrayed and are pleased that cheerleading has been shown as the incredibly tough, gruelling sport that it is.

Morgan Simianer told MTV News she found watching the six episodes (which she binged from 2am-8am on the morning it came out) as "incredible".

"The way that they put everything together, I couldn't even think of anything any better than that. They just really helped me share my story and make it very inspiring for other people. Obviously, I have a different perception of how I view myself versus how other people view me. But I think it did an accurate way of describing me."

Ladarius Marshall and Jerry Harris, a.k.a human sunshine, told Esquire they'd definitely do another show - or perhaps, a second season of Cheer, if it's renewed.

"I would do it again," Jerry said. "I would only do it if the story portrayed me the way I want to be portrayed. Because I don’t want to be the bad guy in anybody’s story."

And well, since it would be literally impossible to portray Jerry as a bad guy, we take that as a 'hell yes'.

Feature images: Netflix.