On Saturday, Katy Perry marked the beginning of Pride Month by reworking the controversial graduation speech delivered by NFL player Harrison Butker.
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Perry celebrates Pride Month by switching up Butker’s speech
The Kansas City Chiefs kicker, 28, stirred controversy with his 20-minute address at Benedictine College in Kansas on May 11, where he criticized working women, Pride Month, abortion, and other issues.
In response, Perry, 39, posted a heavily edited version of Butker’s speech on Instagram.
The “Roar” singer transformed his words to show support for the groups he had originally targeted, sparking widespread social media discussions.
In her version, Butker’s comments about women’s roles were notably altered.
Instead of emphasizing the importance of being a “homemaker,”Perry’s video featured Butker congratulating female graduates on their achievements and encouraging them to pursue successful careers.
“Ladies present today, congratulations on an amazing accomplishment. You should be proud of all that you have achieved to this point in your young lives,”Butker is seen saying in the edited clip.
Further, the revised speech continued with a message of support for diversity, equity, and inclusion.
“The road ahead is bright. Things are changing. Society is shifting and people young and old are embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion,” Butker’s altered remarks stated.
The video concluded with Butker wishing the Class of 2024 a “happy Pride Month,” a stark contrast to his original comments condemning Pride Month as a “deadly sin.”
Perry captioned her post, “Fixed this for my girls, my graduates, and my gays – you can do anything, congratulations and happy pride.”
She also disabled comments on the post to avoid criticism, though it still garnered over 140,000 likes.
Butker’s original speech led to immediate backlash
He labeled Pride Month as an example of “the deadly sins” taught in church and criticized abortion, in vitro fertilization, and surrogacy as “degenerate cultural values.”
Addressing the female graduates, Butker insisted their “most important title” should be “homemaker,” suggesting that most women prioritize marriage and motherhood over career success.
Celebrities such as Maren Morris, Flavor Flav, Maria Shriver, and Hoda Kotb publicly condemned Butker’s remarks, while the NFL distanced itself, stating that his views do not reflect those of the organization.
However, figures like Whoopi Goldberg and Patricia Heaton defended Butker’s right to express his opinions.
Undeterred by the backlash, Butker reiterated his views at the Regina Caeli Academy’s Courage Under Fire gala in Nashville on May 24.
He claimed that women pursuing degrees and careers were being misled by a “diabolical lie.”
Perry’s intervention highlights the ongoing cultural debates around gender roles, inclusivity, and the celebration of Pride Month, bringing renewed attention to the importance of diversity and equality in modern society.
