NFL Fan Base Announces Boycott Over Male Cheerleader Announcement originally appeared on The Spun.
Some NFL fans are not happy that there will be male cheerleaders on the field during the 2025 season.
The Minnesota Vikings will have a pair of male cheerleaders on the field during the 2025 season. The Vikings, who are expected to contend at the top of the NFC in 2025, made the announcement on social media. Unsurprisingly, it has been going viral.
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“The Minnesota #Vikings Cheerleaders have two male cheerleaders for the 2025 season,” ML Football shared on X.
“The team announced Blaize Shiek and Louie Conn have joined their dancing squad for the season.”
While many are praising the Minnesota Vikings for being inclusive – they are hardly the first NFL franchise to have male cheerleaders (the Rams had some in the Super Bowl – the announcement is sparking a lot of reaction.
Some fans have announced that they would cancel their season tickets or boycott the team in response.
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“The Minnesota Vikings has a man as their new lead cheerleader. As if you needed another reason to avoid the NFL and Minnesota,” one fan wrote.
“This might be the dumbest move in NFL history. First male captains of a cheer squad… and talk of an all-male cheerleading division? Yeah, something smells off here,” one fan added.
“I’m done with this team,” one fan added.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – DECEMBER 1: Minnesota Vikings cheerleaders pose as players take the field before the game against the Arizona Cardinals at U.S. Bank Stadium on December 1, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)Stephen Maturen/Getty Images
One right-wing radio host spoke out on X, too.
“Imagine you buy front row season football tickets and when you sit down there’s some man girating right in front of you,” Owen Shroyer wrote.
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Outsports had more on the situation:
“Last season, seven teams had a total of 18 men on their cheer squads. Some are gay, some are bi, some are straight. The Carolina Panthers also had a trans cheerleader. I don’t know how Shiek and Conn of the Vikings identify since I haven’t asked, but male cheerleaders are so common that only someone with real insecurity issues would feel bothered by their presence. I also am bothered by Shiek and Conn — by their agility, gracefulness, athleticism and ability to dance, let alone their great hair. How can I expect to focus on J.J. McCarthy throwing deep to Justin Jefferson when these two attractive dudes distract me?”
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The Vikings are scheduled to open the year on a big stage, taking on the Chicago Bears on ESPN’s “Monday Night Football.”
Kickoff is set for 8:15 p.m. E.T. on Monday, Sept. 8.
NFL Fan Base Announces Boycott Over Male Cheerleader Announcement first appeared on The Spun on Aug 12, 2025
This story was originally reported by The Spun on Aug 12, 2025, where it first appeared.