First Male NFL Cheerleader Speaks Out amid Backlash Over Vikings Adding 2 Men to Their Cheer Squad (Exclusive)

In August, when the Minnesota Vikings announced several additions to their cheer squad, namely male dancers Blaize Shiek and Louie Conn , a certain sect of the internet had a lot to say. “I’m not a Viking fan no more,” one person wrote of the inclusion of men on the cheerleading team. Another added: “I just lost all of my respect for the Vikings.” But male cheerleaders in the NFL are no new phenomenon. Teams’ rosters — even including that of the Vikings — have included men for years. And...