2 days ago
Minnesota Vikings male cheerleaders respond to critics
Two male cheerleaders for the Minnesota Vikings, Blaize Shiek and Louie Conn, have received extensive homophobic online abuse from right-wing commentators.
The online backlash, which included criticism from figures like Kevin Sorbo, Jesse Kelly and Antonio Brown, intensified last week over the presence of male cheerleaders in the NFL.
The Minnesota Vikings organization has publicly supported Shiek and Conn, affirming that all cheerleaders undergo the same rigorous audition process and are valued ambassadors for the team.
Male cheerleaders have been part of NFL teams since 2018, with approximately one-third of clubs now including them, and have a long history in collegiate and high school sports.
This controversy is indicative of a wider conservative push to reinforce traditional gender norms within professional and amateur sports.
