It’s 2025, and yet the most fragile members of the NFL’s fan base still seem to be offended by the concept of male cheerleaders . In May, the Minnesota Vikings welcomed Blaize Shiek and Louie Conn to their cheer program. While they’re far from the first male cheerleaders to hit the field (the Los Angeles Rams incorporated men into their squad back in 2018), some fans were incensed by their inclusion. In the last few months, Shiek and Conn have received a steady stream of homophobic comments and threats on their personal Instagram accounts, as well as on the team’s official social-media channels , that have gotten increasingly more intense as preseason has approached. To combat the swirling vitriol, the Vikings are now doubling down on their support for the team members.

“While man

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