The Minnesota Vikings are at the center of controversy following the release of a social media video featuring two of the team’s new male cheerleaders.
The video, posted to TikTok by female cheerleader Brianna Putney, showed her and teammate Jenna Kathlyn dancing alongside Blaze Shiek and Louie Conn in a bathroom, set to Lizzo’s song “Truth Hurts.”
The footage sparked a wave of debate online, with critics questioning the inclusion of men on the team’s cheerleading squad.
Shiek and Conn, who have responded publicly to their critics, quickly became the subject of national discussion, prompting the Vikings to issue a statement defending their decision to add male cheerleaders to the roster.
“The Minnesota Vikings support all our cheerleaders and are proud of the role they play as ambassadors of the organization,” the team said in a statement to NBC News.
“Male cheerleaders have been part of previous Vikings teams and have long been associated with collegiate and professional cheerleading.”
The Vikings are not the first NFL franchise to incorporate male cheerleaders.
The Los Angeles Rams broke ground in 2018 by hiring men for their cheer squad, while the Baltimore Ravens have also featured male participants.
The Carolina Panthers drew national attention when they introduced the NFL’s first transgender cheerleader, who remained with the team until earlier this year.
Despite those precedents, the Vikings’ new additions have ignited debate.
Former Vikings safety and team captain Jack Brewer criticized the move during an interview with Fox News Digital.
“This is purely an attempt to manipulate young children, to overtake the minds of young children with this spiritual evilness,” Brewer said.
“The influence on kids is manipulating the mind of the children. They are teaching young boys that it’s OK to have pom-poms and cheer and act like women.”
Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., also weighed in, raising concerns about how fans might react.
Speaking on OutKick’s “Hot Mic” program, Tuberville suggested the issue could impact ticket sales.
“People will actually quit buying tickets because this is the narrative they’re trying to push,” Tuberville said.
“This is not just about a couple of people being men cheerleaders. It is about pushing a narrative that you want to put gender into sports and let everyone know we’re trying to show, ‘Hey, we’re going to take the masculinity out of it a little bit.’”
The debate has continued to spread on social media, where many users voiced their opinions about Shiek and Conn’s role on the team.
Supporters argue that male cheerleaders are not new to professional sports, pointing to decades of precedent in both collegiate and NFL cheerleading programs.
Critics, however, argue the move undermines traditional expectations of sports culture and could alienate longtime fans.
As the Vikings prepare for the upcoming season, the organization has made it clear that it stands by its cheerleading squad, both male and female.
The team has emphasized its commitment to diversity within its game-day entertainment and reaffirmed that all members of the squad will remain a visible part of the franchise moving forward.
With public debate continuing, the Vikings’ decision has become one of the most closely watched off-field storylines leading into the NFL season, highlighting a broader national discussion about gender roles, sports, and fan expectations.
