ESPN incurred the wrath of some NFL fans Monday night when its coverage showed a male cheerleader cheering for the San Francisco 49ers.
The Lions clinched a 40-34 win over the Niners at Levi’s Stadium in a Monday Night Football thriller, meaning the battle for the NFC No. 1 seed will come down to Detroit’s showdown against the Minnesota Vikings Sunday.
However, it wasn’t the high-stakes action on the field that caught the attention of some viewers at home.
ESPN’s broadcast caught a glimpse of a male cheerleader for the 49ers, Jon, shaking his pom-poms with the Gold Rush during the second quarter of the game.
And the split-second sH๏τ of the lone male cheerleader on the sidelines sparked a homophobic and misogynistic meltdown on social media.
‘Just saw a male cheerleader on Monday night football, why am I not surprised “it” cheers for the 49ers,’ one social media user wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
A glimpse of 49ers ale cheerleader Jon on ESPN’s coverage sparked an online meltdown
Previously, Jonathan Romero became the first male cheerleader to cheer for the Niners
‘The f***ing 49ers just showed a dude for a cheerleader on national television,’ another, seemingly outraged, added.
‘I didn’t know the 49ers have gay cheerleaders. Once that was seen it can’t be undone,’ a third chimed in.
‘Please don’t tell me the 49ers have men as full on cheerleaders, not the ones who sport for the acrobatics but actually do the cheers and dances,’ another posted, appearing to take issue with Jon’s involvement in the routines.
Jon isn’t the first man to make the Gold Rush roster. Previously, Jonathan Romero became the first male cheerleader for the 49ers before hanging up his poms at the end of the last season after cheering in the Super Bowl.
Yet, others appeared shocked at a male cheerleader dancing and cheering at NFL level as one questioned, ‘Did I just see a dude cheerleader for the 49ers?’
‘Was that a male cheerleader? #fttb #49ers,’ another echoed, adding a GIF of President Joe Biden looking confused.
‘When did the NFL get male cheerleaders?’ one asked.
The split-second sH๏τ of the lone male cheerleader on the sidelines sparked backlash
Well, male cheerleaders cheering in the league is not a new occurrence. In fact, while Jonathan and Jon cheered for the Gold Rush, even the first to do so in the NFL.
Quinton Peron and Napoleon Jinnies broke the gender stereotype in the sport back in 2018 when they became the first male NFL cheerleaders to dance and cheer alongside their female counterparts for the Los Angeles Rams.
The duo opened the door to greater inclusion nd when the Rams went on to win Super Bowl LVI, they made history with five out gay cheerleaders on their sideline.
Justine Lindsay made history as the NFL’s first transgender cheerleader in 2022 when she began cheering for the Carolina Panthers.
