The Minnesota Vikings have responded after they came under fire for their new male cheerleaders, as some social media users said they would no longer support the NFL team.
“While many fans may be seeing male cheerleaders for the first time at Vikings games, male cheerleaders have been part of previous Vikings teams and have long been associated with collegiate and professional cheerleading,” the Minnesota Vikings said in a statement shared with Newsweek.
Why It Matters
The NFL has frequently become a flash point in online culture wars over the past few years, with some people criticizing it for being too “woke.”
Minnesota Vikings cheerleaders are seen in images from videos posted to the team’s social media.
Minnesota Vikings cheerleaders are seen in images from videos posted to the team’s social media.
Minnesota Vikings/MVCheerleaders/Instagram
In the past, discourse and fallouts have been prompted over the displaying of pride flags, the performance of the hymn, “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” which is often referred to as the Black national anthem, and performances at the Super Bowl.
What To Know
A round of criticism was directed toward the Minnesota Vikings after they announced their new cheerleaders in a clip shared to Instagram, captioned: “The next generation of cheer has arrived!” The video featured a young male cheerleader in the middle as the group danced.
Another cheerleader on the squad, a man named Blaize Shiek, took to Instagram to state that he had joined.
“Honored to share that I am officially a 2025-26 Minnesota Vikings Cheerleader! I am so grateful for this journey, the support, and the opportunity to make a little history along the way,” he wrote.
The inclusion of male cheerleaders on the team quickly saw backlash from MAGA and conservatives, with social media posts in response, including from the actor Kevin Sorbo, garnering millions of views on X.
In response, the Minnesota Vikings told Newsweek over email: “In 2025, approximately one third of NFL teams have male cheerleaders. Every member of the Minnesota Vikings Cheerleaders program has an impressive dance background and went through the same rigorous audition process. Individuals were selected because of their talent, passion for dance and dedication to elevating the game day experience.”
The backlash was not universal, with many offering messages of support for the cheerleaders and highlighting that male cheerleaders have long participated in the sport. One viral post on X described the backlash as “loser behavior.”
What People Are Saying
The Minnesota Vikings, in an email shared with Newsweek: “We support all our cheerleaders and are proud of the role they play as ambassadors of the organization.”
Kevin Sorbo, an actor, in a post on X viewed 46 million times: “I’ve been a Vikings fan all my life… sigh. I need a new team now.”
The account @tradwifemom on X in a post viewed 12 million times: “This is an official Minnesota Vikings Cheerleader this year. I’m so done with this state.”
The account @shelbytweten, in a post on X viewed over 96,000 times: “The fact people are mad about a male cheerleader for the Vikings when cheerleading literally originated in Minnesota as a men’s activity in 1898 is comedy.”
The reporter @billybinion, in a post on X viewed over 140,00 times on X: “I cannot for the life of me understand getting mad at stuff like this. This guy isn’t competing in women’s sports. He’s a man who enjoys dancing & is skilled at it. Probably worked very hard to get there. Getting angry at that is such loser behavior.”
What’s Next
MLFootball, an account on X which shares news about the sport said in a post on X that 12 NFL teams are reportedly set to have male cheerleaders on their squads this season, and listed the teams as the Vikings, Ravens, Rams, Saints, Eagles, 49ers, Patriots, Titans, Colts, Chiefs, Buccaneers and Panthers.
This could signal both a new era for the face of cheerleading in the NFL and a potential onset of more backlash and criticism online.