We’re going to say it like they do in the South — bless his heart.
Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) says that if NFL teams in the South decide to follow the Minnesota Vikings’ lead and hire male cheerleaders, they’re going to have a “huge problem.”
The Alabama Republican’s claim came nearly two minutes into Tuesday’s episode of the “Outkick Hot Mic” podcast amid a MAGA word salad of a rant that included some not-so-subtle hints of homophobia.
“If you’re going to be woke and you’re going to try to, you know, take the men out of men’s sports … and say, ‘Okay, we’re gonna make it more about gender than we are about masculinity,’” Tuberville began. “Then you’re gonna have a huge problem.”
Tuberville went on to say that because the Vikings are based in Minnesota, a “blue state,” they’re “more about socialism” and are trying to push a narrative.
“I hope to God it doesn’t come south to Atlanta or to Texas or to Dallas, or some of our NFL teams, because you’ll lose it,” Tuberville said. “I mean, people will actually quit buying tickets and going because this is the narrative they’re trying to push.”
“This is not just about a couple of people being men cheerleaders,” he added. “It is about pushing a narrative that you want to put gender into sports, and let everybody know that we’re trying to show that, hey, we’re going to take the masculinity out of it a little. And that’s not going to happen in the South.”
Despite Tuberville’s implication that Dallas and Texas are two different entities — Dallas is, of course, a city in Texas — the suggestion that football fans in the South wouldn’t support their teams if they hired male cheerleaders is pretty laughable. Especially since at least three NFL teams in the South already have them — the New Orleans Saints, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Tennessee Titans.
Tuberville’s claim that the left is trying to push some narrative about gender in sports is also weird, considering it’s the GOP that has an obsession with transgender kids participating in sports.
As for the backlash the Vikings have received for hiring two new male cheerleaders, Louie Conn and Blaize Shiek, for their 2025 roster, the team is standing firm on their decision.
“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,” a statement from the team reads, per Today.
“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.”
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