Credit: Envato Elements

 

The Vikings’ New Cheerleaders Prove America Still Panics Over Men in Pom-Poms

The Minnesota Vikings just added two male cheerleaders, Blaize Shiek and Louie Conn, to their 35-person squad, and the internet lost its mind. What should have been a fun announcement about team spirit has turned into a culture war, with some fans vowing to boycott the team over two guys holding pom-poms.

Let’s be real: the outrage says more about the critics than about the cheerleaders. People are using words like “embarrassment” and “disgrace,” but what’s really so threatening? These men trained, auditioned, and earned their spots just like anyone else. Yet because they don’t fit the old “NFL tough guy” image, some fans are acting like the sport itself is under attack.

Here’s the kicker: cheerleading used to be dominated by men. It was only in the 20th century that women took the spotlight, so the idea that men don’t “belong” is flat-out wrong. The truth is simple: the Vikings aren’t “ruining football,” they’re bringing it back to its roots.

Former NFL player R.K. Russell nailed it when he said the outrage is really about fragile ideas of masculinity. And he’s right. If a grown man waving pom-poms shakes your sense of identity, the problem isn’t with him, It’s with you.

This isn’t about football, it’s about who gets to be visible. Shiek even said he hopes to inspire kids who have never seen male cheerleaders as an option. That’s powerful. So while some fans rage in comment sections, the Vikings are quietly rewriting the playbook on what belonging looks like in sports.

If two men cheering on the sidelines is what breaks your love for the Vikings, maybe football was never really the issue.