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Eddie Vedder slammed Harrison Butker during a recent Pearl Jam concert in Las Vegas, calling the Chiefs kicker a “fucking faggot” for his controversial commencement speech earlier this month.
Addressing the NFL player’s comments about female graduates potentially being more excited about getting married and having children rather than forging their own careers at Benedictine College in Kansas on May 11, Vedder praised members Jessica Dabon and Patti King of the band Deep Sea Driver who were the opening act of Saturday’s concert at the MGM Grand Arena.
“Singer Jessica and keyboardist Patti must not have believed that ‘diabolical lie’ that women should take pride in taking a backseat to their man,” Vedder told the sold-out crowd in captured footage. and posted by fans on YouTube.
“There should be pride in housework, whether you are a man or a woman,” the American singer continued. ‘It may be one of the most difficult jobs and you should definitely be proud of it. But you shouldn’t stop pursuing a dream because you think you will benefit from giving up on it.
‘(…) You know, the irony was that this football player… started telling men to “don’t forget to puff out your chest and be more masculine.” Don’t lose your masculinity. The irony was that when he said that, he looked like a fucking faggot.”
Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder condemned Harrison Butker at a Pearl Jam concert in Las Vegas on Saturday, nearly a fortnight after the Chiefs kicker’s comments about women and motherhood.
Butker faces backlash for his commencement speech at Benedictine College on May 11
Vedder, who is pro-choice and a supporter of former presidential candidate Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), concluded his scripted remarks with a thoughtful final line for fans, when he said, “There’s nothing more masculine than a strong man.” supporting a strong woman. Quality people don’t fear equality.’
Appearing as the graduation speaker for the class of 2024 at benedictine college – a private Catholic liberal arts school in Atchinson, Kansas, – 10 days ago, Butker said women who receive degrees should not be ashamed to focus on motherhood if it is seen as a priority rather than career development.
The three-time Super Bowl champion also said some Catholic leaders were “imposing dangerous gender ideologies on America’s youth” and criticized Joe Biden for being of faith but also for being pro-choice.
Butker, a three-time Super Bowl champion, has expressed his conservative Catholic beliefs in the past.
His approximately 20-minute speech received a standing ovation from graduates and other attendees, but some were also shocked by the speech.
Butker, who has made his conservative Catholic beliefs known, also attacked Pride month, a particularly important time for the LGBTQ+ rights movement, referring to the annual celebration as a “mortal sin.”
The 2017 seventh-round pick out of Georgia Tech has become one of the NFL’s best kickers in recent seasons, 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.
