The BYU Young Ambassadors aren’t singing anymore.
The world-renowned group of singers, actors and dancers spends much of its time on tour, performing shows that spread the word on The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
But Tuesday, one of their stars was attacked in a scandal that rocked Happy Valley.
Janessa Susanah Berrett?a talented 24-year-old who often played the title role of Emma?was found to be having “illicit relations” with the group’s coordinator, Heber Allred.
“This whole thing has gotten out of hand,” Lisa Jones, a fellow performer, said. “They would never go against BYU rules by doing?stuff.”
The allegations of wrong doing came after a former performer, Todd Kochner, claimed he found the couple, “embracing intimately,” in the janitor’s closet of LaVell Edwards Stadium.
“I know a lot of people just think that I have ‘sour grapes,’ but I would never lie about something like this,” said Kochner, who was kicked out of the group for refusing to shave his already three-day-old stubble.
But many supporters of the group have already publicly attacked Kochner, calling his claims, “darn dirty lies,” in a statement sent to President Merrill Bateman.
Berrett, now three months pregnant, is grateful for the show of support she has received.
“I know I obviously didn’t do anything wrong. Heber and I aren’t married, and we aren’t planning on being married, so we would never do anything to violate school rules. Most importantly, we would never do anything to violate The Rules.
“To all of my supporters who are helping to get the truth out, I just wanted to say that I appreciate chya,” an emotional Berrett commented at a recent press conference.
Until the matter is further investigated, Berrett will be prohibited from performing. Allred will take some time off and let his assistant, Connie Corger, take over.
If found guilty of violating the honor code, the two would be expelled from BYU.
And for Allred, that would be the worst punishment imaginable.
“I would be lost without my Sunshine-Spreadin’ Cougars,” he said of the Young Ambassadors. “I would be forced to go someplace without strict restrictions, someplace immoral, someplace horrible?like the University of Utah.”