The addition of male cheerleaders to a dozen or so NFL team dance squads in recent years has outraged some who see the move as a ‘woke’ attempt at ‘virtue signaling’ within a traditionally feminine space.
Legendary British swimmer and Olympic silver medalist Sharron Davies has used similar language to criticize transgender athletes’ participation in women’s sports, but she sees the cheerleading issue in the NFL much differently.
‘I’m all for this,’ the 62-year-old broadcaster wrote on X. ‘Us females cannot have it every which way, if we want equality it must go both ways.’
Davies then referenced the World Aquatics Championships’ recent inclusion of male competitors in what had been an all-female sport.
‘Absolutely great to see male cheerleaders & recently male synchronised swimmers at our world champs,’ Davies continued. ‘Respect & opportunity to be as feminine or masculine as you want in safety.’
Often an ally of conservatives on gender issues in sports, Davies was criticized by followers for her stance on male cheerleaders.
Olympic silver medalist Sharron Davies doesn’t understand the fuss about male dancers
Minnesota Vikings cheerleader Blaize Shiek performs before a recent preseason game
Many kept it simple with one-word responses (‘No,’ ‘barf,’ etc.) while one person used the issue to reignite the debate on women’s suffrage: ‘This is exactly why we should never have given women the right to vote.’
Another critic warned Davies against arguing ‘if you don’t let them dance they’ll think they have to transition’ — possibly a misguided reference to Davies’ follow-up post:
‘I’d much rather this than suggest this guy has to take cross sex hormones, remove body parts & ruin his health to fit a stupid out of date narrow regressive stereotype,’ Davies wrote. ‘Sex does not change but we’re all unique & can celebrate that.’
The responses varied, with many supporting Davies. Several people explained that male cheerleaders are nothing new, while many others simply voiced an encouraging message, such as: ‘Let him dance!’
There were also some homophobic responses: ‘Why do they have to be gay??? It doesn’t belong in football.’
The Vikings recently added Blaize Shiek and Louie Conn to the cheer squad.
There has been some uproar over their inclusion on the team, but the Vikings have since defended their position in a statement.
‘While many fans may be seeing male cheerleaders for the first time at Vikings games, male cheerleaders have been part of previous Vikings teams and have long been associated with collegiate and professional cheerleading,’ the statement read.
‘In 2025, approximately one-third of NFL teams have male cheerleaders. Every member of the Minnesota Vikings Cheerleaders program has an impressive dance background and went through the same rigorous audition process.
‘Individuals were selected because of their talent, passion for dance and dedication to elevating the game day experience. We support all our cheerleaders and are proud of the role they play as ambassadors of the organization.’
Cheerleaders perform during the second half of a preseason game in Minneapolis
The debate over male cheerleaders recently hit Fox News, where Will Cain called for his former co-host and current U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to weigh in on the matter.
The lighthearted suggestion was met with laughter on Fox News’ Saturday Night With Jimmy Failla, where both the guest and host earnestly objected to men dancing with female cheerleaders.
‘A good third of the league is focusing, perhaps, on the wrong thing,’ Cain said, alluding to the number of teams with coed dance teams.
But Cain wasn’t blasting all male cheerleaders. The native Texan did give a 10-gallon hat tip college cheer teams, which have traditionally included men.
‘I don’t have anything against male cheerleaders,’ he began.
‘The Texas A&M Aggies have been doing this for decades,’ he continued, playfully making the hook’em hand gesture of the rival Texas Longhorns. ‘There have been male cheerleaders around a long time.’
Minnesota Vikings cheerleader Louie Conn lines up with his colleagues on Saturday
The problem, as Cain sees it, is that the NFL’s male cheerleaders are more dancers than the burly guys who spend Saturdays throwing their female counterparts through the air.
‘There is something different than what is going on in the NFL,’ Cain said, arriving at his point. ‘And if we’re really being honest, we’re talking about male cheerleaders being female cheerleaders. That’s what’s happening with these men who are cheering on the Minnesota Vikings.’
Failla agreed saying ‘this is not good.’
Since Hegseth is a Minneapolis native and diehard Vikings fan, Cain naturally thought the defense secretary might be able to get involved.
‘I do know somebody who is a Minnesota Vikings fan, and I imagine he had a pretty big hand in those B-52s flying over Vladimir Putin’s head today in Alaska,’ Cain said, referring to Donald Trump’s brief meting with the Russian President. ‘So I don’t know, maybe we need to call the Secretary of Defense.’
