Particle.news
Download on the App Store
12 ARTICLES
·
last wk.

Vikings Stand By Two Male Cheerleaders as High-Profile Critics Turn Up the Heat

The team says the dancers earned their spots through the same audition process and points to NFL precedent, adding there have been no confirmed season-ticket cancellations.

(L) Tomi Lahren attends the 2023 FOX Nation Patriot Awards at The Grand Ole Opry on November 16, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. (R) Meghan McCain attends the 2023 TIME100 Gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center on April 26, 2023 in New York City.
Cheerleaders perform before the start of an NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the New Orleans Saints Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Image
Image

Overview

  • Sen. Tommy Tuberville questioned the NFL and warned of potential fan losses in an OutKick interview after the Vikings named Blaize Shiek and Louie Conn to their 2025 squad.
  • The Vikings told NBC News that male cheerleaders have been part of previous teams, all members passed a rigorous tryout, and the organization supports every cheerleader.
  • Shiek and Conn addressed the backlash with a joint Instagram message and continued preseason performances following their Aug. 9 introduction.
  • Reactions split across the right, with figures like Ben Shapiro criticizing the routines while Tomi Lahren and Meghan McCain said the inclusion is neither new nor concerning.
  • Male cheerleaders have been in the NFL since 2018 and roughly one-third of teams include them in 2025; the Philadelphia Eagles list three male cheerleaders on their current roster.