Two male cheerleaders from the Minnesota Vikings NFL franchise have been subjected to threats and cyberbullying by American football fans, sparking a controversy over male participation in the popular American sport on the professional stage.

Nothing should change in the sacrosanct National Football League, including among the cheerleaders. In the United States, the presence of men on the Minnesota Vikings' team of what are known in France as "pom-pom girls" is causing heated controversy. To the point that the two people involved are the target of numerous online attacks.

Blaize Shiek and Louie Conn, who joined the Minnesota franchise's cheerleading squad this summer and participated in preseason meetings, have been subjected to insults from many American football fans, including fans of their own franchise, and even big names in Major League Football.

Some of them even threatened to cancel their stadium season tickets on social media, calling their participation "woke shit." So far, the franchise has confirmed that no threats have been carried out and has supported its two members.

"While many fans may be seeing male cheerleaders for the first time at Vikings games, they have been a part of previous teams and have a long history of collegiate and professional cheerleading. Those selected were chosen for their talent, passion for dance, and commitment to enhancing the game-day experience. We support all of our cheerleaders and are proud of the role they play as ambassadors for the organization," she said in a statement to NBC News.

A MALE DISCIPLINE IN ITS BEGINNINGS

While some voices have been raised in the United States in support of the Vikings' male cheerleaders, it is important to remember that, in the past, several teams have already had male members among their cheerleaders.

Indeed, the Los Angeles Rams were the first to have male cheerleaders, before being followed by several other franchises. For this 2025-2026 season, no fewer than 12 franchises plan to include male cheerleaders on their teams.

Furthermore, cheerleading, which appeared at the end of the 19th century in the northeastern United States, was initially practiced by men, before becoming a mainly female activity from the 1960s onwards.

So much so that four American presidents have been members of their respective university cheerleading squads: Franklin D. Roosevelt, Dwight Eisenhower, Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush.