😬 Vikings Cheer Squad in CHAOS After Gay Male Member Issues Shockingly Weak Response to Backlash šŸ‘€šŸ’”

When the Minnesota Vikings quietly added 24-year-old Drew Mallory to their cheer squad earlier this season, the move was hailed internally as a progressive milestone — a long-overdue step toward inclusion in a sport infamous for its rigid masculinity.

But the public reaction was anything but celebratory.

Did someone say our name?' Vikings' male cheerleaders respond to bigotry

Within hours of the team posting a TikTok featuring Drew mid-routine, the comments section was a battlefield.

Angry fans flooded the post with accusations of ā€œwokeness,ā€ ā€œvirtue signaling,ā€ and ā€œruining football.

ā€ Sports forums lit up with aggressive threads.

Talk radio hosts — including several former NFL players — openly questioned the team’s ā€œpriorities.

The message was clear:
They didn’t want him there.

Not on the field.

Not on the sidelines.

Not in the NFL.

And after days of mounting criticism, Drew finally broke his silence.

Vikings' male cheerleaders hit back in social media post after fan backlash  - Yahoo Sports

But instead of delivering the empowering knockout punch many hoped for… he offered a painfully soft response that has now triggered even more backlash.

In an Instagram story that lasted less than 90 seconds, Drew said:

ā€œI know there’s been a lot of noise lately, but I just want to remind everyone — I’m not here to fight.

I’m here to dance.

That’s it.The post ended with a smile and a heart emoji.

That’s it.No direct rebuttal.

No name-checking the hate.No stance.

Just… a vague wave of positivity and a soft fade-out.

Supporters were left scratching their heads.

Minnesota Vikings: NFL team fires back at critics after copping massive  backlash for male cheerleaders | The Nightly

Critics smelled blood in the water.

Even LGBTQ+ advocates admitted they were underwhelmed.

ā€œWe wanted a response that matched the moment,ā€ said one queer sports commentator.

ā€œInstead, we got a shrug.

He had a spotlight, and he dimmed it.

Social media was ruthless.

One viral comment read:
ā€œSo you get dragged all week, and your response is… you’re just here to dance? What are you — Barbie?ā€

Others accused Drew of ā€œfolding,ā€ ā€œdodging the issue,ā€ and ā€œtrying to stay likable to people who clearly hate him.

But perhaps the harshest reactions came from inside the NFL’s own fanbase — many of whom already felt the league was becoming ā€œtoo political.

Sports radio host Blake Vaughn aired a blistering segment:

ā€œLook — if you want to be a trailblazer, fine.

Minnesota Vikings' Male Cheerleaders Fire Back At Fierce Backlash With Bold  Instagram Post That's Going To Piss Off A Lot Of Angry Fans Full story via  šŸ”— in comments. šŸ‘‡

But trailblazers don’t duck.

They don’t deflect.

You step into the fire or you don’t step up at all.

ā€

The Vikings organization has not issued an official statement since the incident, but sources inside the PR department have confirmed the team is ā€œdisappointedā€ with how quickly the moment turned divisive.

ā€œWe expected criticism,ā€ said one staffer.

ā€œBut we didn’t expect to be completely blindsided without a plan for response.

And we definitely didn’t expect him to try to downplay the whole thing.

Drew has since gone radio silent, with his Instagram and TikTok pages scrubbed of comments and no further posts since the now-infamous story.

Meanwhile, the cheer squad continues its scheduled performances, with Drew still on the field — but now under the harsh, unforgiving glare of viral scrutiny.

So where does this leave the so-called ā€œinclusive NFLā€ dream?

Cracked.

Complicated.

Conflicted.

Drew Mallory’s presence was supposed to usher in a new chapter for pro sports — one of courage, visibility, and pride.

But instead of clapping back with fire, he whispered… and walked away.

And while some still defend his right to respond however he wants, others can’t help but ask:

What’s the point of breaking barriers if you don’t defend the space you break into?