Shiek is one of two male cheerleaders on the Vikings team, joining Louie Conn for the 2025 season.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Since Shiek and Conn were announced as new members of the squad, critics of their inclusion have made themselves vocal on social media, with some threatening to cancel their season tickets.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy do people condone this \ud83d\ude02\ud83d\ude02,\u201d one person commented.<\/p>\n
Another wrote, \u201cHaven\u2019t us Vikings fans suffered enough over the years? Now this??!\u201d<\/p>\n
In a statement to NBC News<\/a> on Wednesday, August 13, the Vikings defended Shiek and Conn joining the team\u2019s roster and insisted no season ticket holders have returned their deposits.<\/p>\n \u201cMale cheerleaders have been part of previous Vikings teams and have long been associated with collegiate and professional cheerleading,\u201d the team said. \u201cWe support all our cheerleaders and are proud of the role they play as ambassadors of the organization.\u201d<\/p>\n In a video shared via the Vikings\u2019 YouTube channel after Shiek was hired, he discussed the impact of the moment.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI went to a lot of Vikings games with my family, mainly my dad,\u201d he said. \u201cWas definitely watching the cheerleaders thinking like, \u2018I wish I could do that.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n Shiek said he looks forward to \u201cbeing that role model for other little kids who don\u2019t know that this is an option.\u201d<\/p>\n \t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t \t\t\t \n\t\t\tAfter Aaron Rodgers made the surprise announcement that he\u2019s a newly married man, one very important question still lingers: Who did he actually marry? Rodgers, 41, revealed he tied the knot \u201ca couple months ago\u201d during his first official day as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers on Tuesday, June 10.\u00a0 When asked by a [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n After grueling rounds of tryouts, Shiek celebrated officially being named to the Vikings\u2019 cheerleading squad in May.\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\tThank You!<\/p>\n You have successfully subscribed.<\/p>\n \u201cI am so grateful for this journey, the support, and the opportunity to make a little history along the way,\u201d he wrote via Instagram<\/a>. \u201cI hope to represent and inspire what\u2019s possible when you stay true to who you are.\u201d<\/p>\n The Vikings\u2019 cheerleading team later celebrated Conn\u2019s birthday in June, calling him an \u201camazing rookie.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou have already brought so much energy, passion, and pure purple pride to the MVC family, and we couldn\u2019t be more excited to celebrate YOU today!\u201d the team shared via Instagram<\/a>. \u201cWe\u2019re so lucky to have your talent, spirit, and sparkle on the team. Here\u2019s to an incredible year ahead full of unforgettable memories, on the sidelines and beyond! We can\u2019t wait to see all that you accomplish.\u201d<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"Minnesota](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Minnesota-Vikings-Male-Cheerleader-Blaize-Sheik-Shuts-Down-Haters-While-Making-NFL-Debut-002.jpg\")
Courtesy of Blaize Sheik\/Instagram<\/p>\n![\"Feature](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/GettyImages-2219535682-Aaron-Rodgers-Steelers-1.jpg?crop=0px%2C86px%2C2000px%2C1131px&resize=400%2C225&quality=86&strip=all\")
\n\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n
\n Related: All the Clues About the Identity of Aaron Rodgers\u2018 New Mystery Wife<\/a><\/p>\n