Overview

• The Minnesota Vikings added male dancers Blaize Shiek and Louie Conn to their cheer squad in August, prompting online criticism from some fans and commentators.
• InfoWars host Owen Shroyer and others derided the move on social media, exemplifying the backlash that surfaced during the preseason.
• Jinnies, one of the NFL’s first male cheerleaders with the Los Angeles Rams in 2018, told People he is “rolling my eyes” at the complaints.
• He praised Shiek and Conn as “beat-for-beat, step-for-step” strong performers and said support typically outweighs the negativity.
• Men have been on NFL cheer rosters since at least 2018, and Shiek and Conn have continued performing for the Vikings despite the online attacks.