Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker has found himself in the eye of a storm following his recent commencement speech at Benedictine College.
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Butker calls Pride month a “deadly sin”
During the May 11 ceremony, Butker took the opportunity to express his views on various contentious topics, sparking backlash across social media platforms.
Butker started his speech by saying “It is safe to say that over the years, I have gained quite the reputation for speaking my mind.”
The 28-year-old NFL player didn’t mince words as he tackled issues ranging from Pride Month and transgender individuals to the COVID-19 pandemic and traditional gender roles.
Butker’s remarks, which included statements against abortion, in vitro fertilization (IVF), surrogacy, and what he described as “degenerate cultural values,” have drawn criticism for their divisive nature.
In his address, Butker expressed his disdain for Pride Month, dismissing it as a celebration of “dangerous gender ideologies,” and referring to it as “the deadly sins sort of Pride that has an entire month dedicated to it.”
He also quoted a Taylor Swift lyric, referring to her as “my teammate’s girlfriend.”
Butker’s remarks about Swift referred to a lyric from the song “Bejeweled” in which the pop star says “familiarity breeds contempt.”
Butker: Women have been fed “diabolic lies”
However, it was Butker’s comments directed towards women that ignited the most controversy.
He praised his own wife for embracing her role as a homemaker, suggesting that true fulfillment for women lies in marriage and motherhood.
Butker went on to assert that women have been subjected to “diabolic lies,” implying that their primary aspirations revolve around family life rather than professional success.
“I think it is you, the women, who have had the most diabolic lies told to you,” he said.
“Some of you may go on to lead successful careers in the world but I would venture to guess that the majority of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into this world.”
“I can tell you that my beautiful wife, Isabelle, would be the first to say that her life truly started when she began living her vocation as a wife and a mother. I’m on this stage, and able to be the man I am, because I have a wife who leans into her vocation,” Butker said.
He went on saying, “I’m beyond blessed with the many talents God has given me, but it cannot be overstated that all of my success is made possible because a girl I met in band class back in middle school would convert to the faith, become my wife, and embrace one of the most important titles of all: homemaker.”
Not stopping there, Butker also addressed the male graduates, urging them to embrace their masculinity and combat what he perceives as the cultural emasculation of men.
He emphasized the importance of men in shaping societal norms and lamented their supposed absence in domestic settings.
“As men, we set the tone of the culture, and when that is absent, disorder, dysfunction and chaos set in,” he said.
Unsurprisingly, Butker’s speech has faced significant backlash from fans and observers alike.
Calls for his dismissal from the Kansas City Chiefs have reverberated across social media platforms, with many condemning his remarks as regressive and out of touch with contemporary values.
Former Kansas City commissioner Justice Horn denounced Butker’s speech, asserting that it does not align with the inclusive values of the city.
Meanwhile, OutSports, a platform dedicated to LGBTQ+ sports news, criticized Butker for quoting a Taylor Swift song before advocating for traditional gender roles.
Despite the uproar, Butker’s future with the Kansas City Chiefs remains uncertain, with the team declining to comment on his controversial commencement address.
