The decision by the Minnesota Vikings, a football team, to introduce male cheerleaders into its squad has set off a firestorm of backlash, with some critics pledging to never support the team again.
This week, the team specifically introduced two extremely flamboyant men, Blaize Shiek and Louie Conn, as Vikings cheerleaders.
Watch:
Dear Minnesota Vikings,
Just Stop.
Sincerely,
All Sane Americans— The Outlaw Patriot (@OutlawPatriotX) August 13, 2025
MINNESOTA VIKINGS NOW HAVE TWO MALE CHEERLEADERS.
No one asked for this. No one wanted this.pic.twitter.com/odcKOejThR
— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) August 13, 2025
In a statement to Newsweek, the team defended the decision by citing its lengthy history.
“While many fans may be seeing male cheerleaders for the first time at Vikings games, male cheerleaders have been part of previous Vikings teams and have long been associated with collegiate and professional cheerleading,” the team said.
“In 2025, approximately one third of NFL teams have male cheerleaders. Every member of the Minnesota Vikings Cheerleaders program has an impressive dance background and went through the same rigorous audition process,” the team added.
“Individuals were selected because of their talent, passion for dance and dedication to elevating the game day experience. We support all our cheerleaders and are proud of the role they play as ambassadors of the organization,” the team concluded.
But this was no comfort to critics like actor Kevin Sorbo, a lifelong Vikings fan who tweeted that he needs “a new team now.”
His sentiment was shared by many:
Not surprised to see fans trashing the Vikings for adding two male cheerleaders. The LAST thing that team needed was two more guys who can’t score.
— Jimmy Failla (@jimmyfailla) August 13, 2025
The sad part is they feature the homosexual upfront and the actual cheerleaders behind him. Again another woman dominated sport now dominated by a gay man. Way to go @Vikings
— American Badass (@STR8FWDUSA) August 11, 2025
Viewership is predominantly male and this shit isn’t going to last. We want to see Gladiators fight on the field and good looking WOMEN on the sidelines.
@NFL @nflcommish Get This Shit Under control Now, Going Woke Goes Broke.— Big Tev (@LowkeySpitta) August 12, 2025
Look, if you want to put gymnast dudes on cheerleading squads, go for it. Let them do crazy tumbles and jumps and shit. Have them throw the small chicks in the air and stuff.
The Vikings are just replacing a couple of chicks with dudes who want to act like chicks.
So dumb.
— RBe (@RBPundit) August 13, 2025
Welcome to Minnesota.
Where a man can put on a ton of makeup and be a Vikings cheerleader and a Somali ship captain can be mayor. pic.twitter.com/fROVE5aPKK
— Kentucky Girl (@Notwokenow) August 12, 2025
Some have defended the team’s decision.
“I cannot for the life of me understand getting mad at stuff like this,” Reason magazine reporter Billy Binion wrote in a post on X.
“This guy isn’t competing in women’s sports. He’s a man who enjoys dancing & is skilled at it. Probably worked very hard to get there. Getting angry at that is such loser behavior,” he added.
Conn’s mother, meanwhile, is furious over the backlash.
“This kid, I’m so incredibly proud of him,” she told The Minnesota Star Tribune, referencing her son. “It makes me sick that people are so small-minded and so mean.”
“For somebody with his talent and work ethic achieving these goals, just to get slammed for doing something he’s incredible at, passionate about, and doing something he loves. You wouldn’t think you’d have this in Minneapolis, the honest to God’s truth,” she added.
As for Shiek, he revealed in a video shared on the Vikings’ YouTube channel that he’d grown up wanting to be a cheerleader.
“I went to a lot of Vikings games with my family, mainly my dad,” he said. “Was definitely watching the cheerleaders thinking like, ‘I wish I could do that.’”
He added that he looks forward to “being that role model for other little kids who don’t know that this is an option.”
All that’s missing, some have said, is a third male cheerleader:
BREAKING: The @Vikings have now added a third male cheerleader to their cheer roster! So bold and progressive!
h/t @TimJongWalz pic.twitter.com/AnlwrvqDFr
— AK Kamara (@realakkamara) August 12, 2025
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Author: Vivek Saxena
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