Overview

• The Vikings’ 35-member cheer roster includes Blaize Shiek and Louie Conn, who earned spots through the team’s audition process and bring dance credentials.
• After online threats of boycotts, the team told NBC News it has recorded no season-ticket cancellations tied to the hires.
• Shiek and Conn responded to critics with a joint Instagram post — “Wait…did someone say our name?” — shared ahead of a preseason home game on August 16.
• The organization noted that men have appeared on past Vikings squads and that roughly one-third of NFL teams now feature male cheerleaders.
• Reaction has ranged from hostile posts by figures such as Kevin Sorbo, Jesse Kelly and Antonio Brown to public support from former NFL receiver Torrey Smith.