The Carolina Panthers cheer squad controversy centers on former TopCats member Justine Lindsay, who says he was cut because he is transgender, while the team has pointed to qualifications and roster decisions; the dispute mixes claims about a new coach, youth influence, political overtones and a public statement from the dancer about continuing community work and pageantry.
Lindsay first made headlines as the league’s alleged first transgender cheerleader after joining the Panthers in 2022, a development the team at the time defended by noting TopCats members are “hired based on their qualifications and abilities.” That hiring was framed as an opportunity for visibility and outreach, and the organization publicly wished its squad “an incredible season.” The background set the stakes for what would become a very public split.
Halfway through the 2025 season Lindsay went public with a simple, blunt accusation: “I was cut because I’m trans,” he said during an Instagram live broadcast. That claim landed hard and fast, and it forced a clash between individual testimony and the club’s line about personnel choices. Fans and critics immediately debated whether the move was about identity or performance.
Lindsay spelled out his frustration in a longer statement that mixed anger with disbelief: “I don’t wanna hear nobody saying ‘She didn’t wanna come back.’ Why the hell would I not wanna come back to an organization that I’ve been a part of for three years?” The comment drove at loyalty and at the idea that motive, not merit, was at play. It also raised questions about how teams manage roster changes when cultural issues are attached to personnel choices.
The cheerleader singled out a coaching change as the turning point, arguing that the arrival of a new leader triggered old patterns: “When she came over to our organization, I was like, ‘Oh hell, here we go. Imma have to deal with the same mess that I dealt with two years prior,'” Lindsay claimed. He made it clear he viewed the dismissal as personal and connected to staff dynamics, not a neutral evaluation of skills. That kind of accusation puts the club under pressure to be transparent about selection standards.
Lindsay has consistently positioned his time with the TopCats as more than a job, saying his presence mattered to young people and to a broader community. “Everything that I’m going through now, it’s bigger than me,” he told Elle. “I’m setting things up for the younger generation. No one is going to stop this show.” Those comments speak to a deliberate effort to frame the role as advocacy as well as performance, which complicates how the situation reads to different audiences.
He also tied his work to personal advancement, urging others to follow similar paths: “I want to change the narrative for my trans sisters and brothers, just to [let them] know that if you have a goal, go for it,” he said. “Turn that dream into a reality. Be an NFL cheerleader or a doctor or a nurse or whatever you set your mind to.” That message resonates with people who see representation as progress, even as it fuels debate about what professional squads should prioritize.
When Lindsay announced he’d been released earlier this year he emphasized ongoing pursuits: “For now, I’m focusing on my pageantry work and community involvement, striving to be recognized not just as an NFL cheerleader, but as someone making a positive impact, especially during these uncertain times,” he said. He also took a political swipe, saying, “Don’t let a president who is delusional stop them from reaching their goals whether they are trans, African-American, not American, etc.” That step into partisan rhetoric turned the roster item into a wider cultural flashpoint.
From a Republican perspective, organizations like the Panthers should defend their right to make personnel decisions based on qualifications and fit, while also being clear and fair about how those choices are arrived at. The club’s earlier statement that TopCats are “hired based on their qualifications and abilities” is the kind of standard that needs to be applied consistently, not overridden by public pressure or politics. If a coach change led to a different evaluation, the team owes stakeholders a straightforward explanation.
Accusations of discrimination and claims of political interference collide here, and the Panthers ownership group Tepper Sports Entertainment did not respond to a request for comment. The situation remains unresolved in the public eye, and Lindsay summed up his sense of grievance plainly: “It’s just a slap in the face,” he complained.
