Vikings male cheerleaders (Photo via Instagram)
Minnesota Vikings male cheerleader Blaize Shiek is not letting the critics bring him down over his appearance on the squad.

In 2025, the NFL is seeing a significant increase in male cheerleaders across multiple teams.

The Minnesota Vikings added two male dancers for 2025: Blaize Shiek and Louie Conn. They have received the most backlash, and even more so since one of them is firing back.

It began with the Vikings announcing that two male cheerleaders had joined the Minnesota Vikings Cheerleaders (MVC) for the 2025 season.

While many praised the move as a step forward for inclusivity and representation in the NFL, others expressed frustration, with some even threatening to cancel season tickets or boycott the team.

Blaize Shiek seemed to address the controversy by poking fun at all of the people discussing him.

“Wait…did someone say our name?” Shiek wrote in a post on Instagram that included a photo of himself and Conn in their cheer uniforms.

Shiek had his right arm in the air while holding a pom-pom as his good friend smiled and posed for the camera. Conn also shared the post on his page.

The backlash might be never-ending, but it’s a practice that won’t be ending anytime soon since at least 12 teams in the league now feature male cheerleaders.

Not everybody is a critic of the two male cheerleaders.

Joy Taylor Lights Up Critics Over Taking Aim At Blaize Shiek and Louie Conn

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 03: Joy Taylor attends the world premiere of “Ballerina”, presented by Lionsgate, at TCL Chinese Theatre on June 03, 2025 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Maya Dehlin Spach/WireImage
The Minnesota Vikings were criticized on social media ahead of the start of the preseason schedule because the team had two male cheerleaders.

Blaize Shiek and Louie Conn have been the poster children of the criticism.

Pictures of Shiek in a Vikings cheerleading uniform sparked a frenzy and a debate about male cheerleaders in the NFL.

Joy Taylor, who lost her job at Fox Sports, hit back at them last week.

In response, Joy Taylor wrote, “So teaching kids slavery was not a big deal is acceptable, but male cheerleaders is where ‘conservatives’ draw the line,” as she added laughing emojis.

Taylor continued: “Also, this isn’t new, so as usual, outrage over nothing.”

Brittney Griner Finally Breaks Her Silence Over Alleged Caitlin Clark Comments That The WNBA Refused To Investigate

Brittney Griner (Photo via Twitter)
WNBA star Brittney Griner was at the center of a new debate over what she allegedly said in a game against basketball phenom Caitlin Clark.

The Atlanta Dream center found herself at the center of social media controversy last month when some fans thought she disparaged Indiana Fever star guard Caitlin Clark upon fouling out.

The game’s broadcast focused on an upset Griner saying something as she returned to the Dream bench after fouling out of the game. While there’s no audio of this moment, some who tried to read Griner’s lips thought she called Clark a “trash f–king white girl.”

However, there’s no proof of Griner saying those actual words since others thought she stated something else.

It took weeks for someone to finally get a quote from her, and she provided much of nothing.

Brittney Griner was asked about this moment before her team’s June 15 game against the Washington Mystics and said, “I remember fouling out, being mad. I remember fouling out on, I believe it was [Natasha] Howard driving to the basket. They said I put my hand in.”

This is the first time I’ve heard Brittney Griner speak! 🤨
And this person is on a women’s basketball team? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/PogH2LHf3B

— Jannine.. #MagaMemeQueen ™️ 👑🇺🇸 (@janninereid1) June 15, 2025

WNBA Chooses Not To Investigate Brittney Griner

Brittney Griner (Photo By Dale Zanine-Imagn Images)
Moments before the conclusion of the Indiana Fever’s 81-76 victory over the Dream at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta weeks ago, cameras seemingly caught Atlanta Dream star center Brittney Griner labeling Caitlin Clark “trash” before calling her a “f***ing white girl” in frustration over a foul on Natasha Howard.

The clip of Griner speaking on the bench, lacking context, spread on social media and went viral.

Griner, who won a gold medal for Team USA at the Summer Olympics in Paris in 2024, essentially got aw@y with whatever came out of her mouth because the league basically ignored the controversy.

This incident is not the only time Griner vocalized her frustrations this season. Following another game, she stormed off mid-interview, yelling at the referees to “be f—ing better.