The backlash against Chiefs star Harrison Butker continues to grow and the NFL issued a statement distancing the organization from his bizarre commencement speech in which he told women they should aspire to be housewives.
That press release came as the petition to remove him from the Super Bowl champion’s roster approaches 100,000 signatures. He was installed just one day after his speech at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas.
Butker, 28, who has made her conservative Catholic beliefs known, also attacked Pride month, a particularly important time for the LGBTQ+ rights movement, and President Joe Biden’s stance on abortion.
Harrison Butker gave a speech in his personal capacity. His views are not those of the NFL as an organization. The NFL is steadfast in our commitment to inclusion, which only strengthens our league,” said the league’s chief diversity and inclusion officer, Jonathan Beane.
‘Their views are not those of the NFL as an organization. The NFL is steadfast in our commitment to inclusion, which only strengthens our league,” said Beane, who is also a senior vice president.
Harrison Butker of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates on the field with his wife Isabelle and son after defeating the Tennessee Titans in the AFC Championship Game at Arrowhead Stadium on January 19, 2020 in Kansas City, Missouri.
Butker detailed his beliefs about gender roles for men and women at Benedictine College
The 2017 seventh-round pick out of Georgia Tech has become one of the best kickers in the NFL, breaking the Chiefs’ franchise record with a 62-yard field goal in 2022.
As of this writing, the petition calling for Butker’s dismissal from the Chiefs has surpassed 80,000 signatures.
As of this writing, the Change.org petition, ‘Demand Kansas City bosses fire Harrison Butker for discriminatory comments,’ has over 80,000 signatures.
“These dehumanizing comments against LGBTQ+ people, attacks on abortion rights and racial discrimination perpetuate division and undermine human rights,” he also stated.
The petition’s propaganda described the speech as “sexist, homophobic, anti-trans, anti-abortion and racist.”
By comparison, a petition titled “Support Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker” has just 800 signatures.
Former Kansas City commissioner Judge Horn also criticized Butker in a social media post, writing, “Harrison Butker does not represent Kansas City and never has.” Kansas City has always been a place that welcomes, affirms and embraces members of our LGBTQ+ community.
Butker’s comments have been reverberating around the Internet for days.
“I think it’s you women who have been told the most diabolical lies,” the Georgia Tech graduate said.
“Some of you may go on to have successful careers in the world, but I would venture to guess that most of you are more excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into this world,” he said.
‘I can tell you that my beautiful wife Isabelle would be the first to say that her life truly began when she began to live her calling as a wife and mother.’
Butker said his wife adopted “one of the most important titles of all.” She’s a housewife.
He also criticized as derogatory to the Catholic Church an Associated Press article highlighting a turn toward conservatism in some parts of the church.
The three-time Super Bowl champion gave his roughly 20-minute speech Saturday at the private Catholic liberal arts school in Atchison, Kansas, which is about 60 miles north of Kansas City.
He received a standing ovation from the graduates and other attendees.
Butler, 28, referred to a “mortal sin, a kind of pride to which a month is dedicated” in an oblique reference to Pride month.
Butler also took aim at Biden’s policies, including his condemnation of the Supreme Court’s overturning of the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision and his defense of free choice, a key campaign issue in the 2024 presidential race.
Biden, who is Catholic, has a complicated history on the issue. He initially opposed the Roe v. Wade, saying he was going too far. He also opposed federal funding for abortions and supported restrictions on abortions later in pregnancy.
Butker also addressed Biden’s response to COVID-19, which has killed nearly 1.2 million people in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“While COVID may have played a role during his formative years, it’s not the only one,” he said. ‘Bad policies and poor leadership have negatively impacted important life issues. Things like abortion, IVF, surrogacy, euthanasia, as well as growing support for degenerate cultural values and media, arise from the omnipresence of disorder.’
Harrison Butker of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates with his children after kicking the field goal to beat the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII at State Farm Stadium on February 12, 2023 in Glendale, Arizona.
Graduates had mixed opinions about the speech. ValerieAnne Volpe, 20, an art graduate, praised Butker for saying things that “people are afraid to say.”
‘You can hear he loves his wife. “You can hear he loves his family,” he said.
Elle Wilbers, 22, who is heading to medical school, said she was shocked by Butker’s criticism of priests and bishops and his reference to the LGBTQ+ community, which she described as “horrible.”
“We need to have compassion for people who have been told their entire lives that the person they love says it’s not okay to love that person,” Wilbers said.
Kassidy Neuner, 22, who will spend a year off teaching before going to law school, said being a stay-at-home parent is “a wonderful decision.”
“And it’s not for everyone either,” Neuner added. “I think I should have addressed more the fact that it’s not always an option.” And, if it’s your choice in life, that’s amazing for you. But there is also the option of being a mother and career woman.’
The Chiefs declined to comment on Butker’s commencement speech.
The 2017 seventh-round pick out of Georgia Tech has become one of the best kickers in the NFL, breaking the Chiefs’ franchise record with a 62-yard field goal in 2022.
Butker helped them win their first Super Bowl in 50 years in 2020, added a second Lombardi Trophy in 2023 and kicked the field goal that forced overtime in the Super Bowl victory over San Francisco in February.
