Mother of Vikings Cheerleader Defends Son Amid Backlash

Kathleen Conn is speaking out, her voice steady yet filled with emotion, as she defends her son Louie Conn, a male cheerleader for the Minnesota Vikings. The inclusion of Louie on the cheerleading squad has sparked significant debate, igniting a wave of reactions that the family has found hard to ignore.

“He’s 22. Of course he reads it all,” Kathleen remarked, acknowledging the impact of the backlash on Louie and their family. The conversation surrounding his role has been anything but quiet since his debut.

Louie, alongside fellow cheerleader Blaize Shiek, took to the field for the first time on August 9 during a preseason game against the Houston Texans at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Their performances have drawn both admiration and scorn.

In recent weeks, social media platforms have become battlegrounds, with the Vikings’ official accounts and personal profiles of Louie and Shiek flooded with derogatory comments regarding their positions on the team.

“This kid, I’m so incredibly proud of him,” Kathleen expressed passionately. “It makes me sick that people are so small-minded and so mean. For somebody with his talent and work ethic achieving these goals, just to get slammed for doing something he’s incredible at, passionate about, and doing something he loves.”

She continued, “You wouldn’t think you’d have this in Minneapolis, the honest to God’s truth.”

Before joining the Vikings cheerleading team, Louie was part of the Iowa State University dance team. His former dance teacher, Kimberly Munn, shared insights into the challenges he faced. “Being a boy in the Midwest who dances is already a strike against you,” she noted.

Munn further praised Louie’s character: “He is one of the kindest human beings I’ve ever met. All of the stones that have been thrown at him — he could be such a different person than who he is today. He’s never allowed that to define him. He works his tail off.”

Despite the negativity from critics, Louie and Shiek enjoy unwavering support from their teammates and coaches. “Proud to lead a team that evolves, pushes boundaries, and reflects the full spectrum of talent,” Jacie Scott, head coach of the Vikings cheerleaders, stated on social media. “Excellence has never looked just one way. And, thankfully, it never will.”

In a light-hearted response to the controversy, Louie and Shiek took to social media with a playful post. “Wait…did someone say our name?” Shiek quipped on Instagram alongside a photo of them in uniform.

The Vikings are set to kick off their 2025 regular season against the Chicago Bears on September 8, followed by their home opener against the Atlanta Falcons on September 14, where both Louie and Shiek will proudly cheer from the sidelines.