Harrison Butker came out in support of one of his Chiefs teammates at the ESPYs in Los Angeles on Thursday night, exactly two months after his controversial commencement speech at a private liberal arts college in Kansas.
The 28-year-old Chiefs kicker appeared on the red carpet at the ceremony without his wife, Isabelle, while sporting a cream tuxedo and pinstripe pants with black dress shoes.
His latest appearance comes after his quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, was nominated for two awards, along with the Chiefs. Mahomes is nominated for both the “Best NFL Player” and “Best Men’s Sports Athlete” awards, while the Chiefs are the only NFL franchise to have been nominated for the “Best Team” award.
Butker sparked controversy in May for his controversial comments about abortion, U.S. President Joe Biden and the COVID-19 pandemic during a commencement speech at Benedictine College in Hutchinson, Kansas.
The three-time Super Bowl champion, who ranks second in NFL history in career field goal percentage (89.1 percent), warned the graduates in attendance about the “evil lies” they are told in today’s society. He also said, “I would venture to guess that most of you are more excited about marriage and the children you will bring into this world.”
Harrison Butker made a solo appearance on the ESPYs red carpet in Los Angeles wearing a cream tuxedo.
Butker’s appearance in Los Angeles on Thursday comes after his controversial speech in May.
Butker added that he was “beyond blessed” in his marriage and that his wife felt more fulfilled in her role as “housewife.”
Following his speech, the NFL player received criticism from a number of high-profile figures, including Arnold Schwarzenegger’s ex-wife and former first lady of California, Maria Shriver.
Butker has since made several other public appearances this year, including at the White House when the Biden administration hosted the Chiefs to celebrate the team’s victory in the 2022 Super Bowl.
However, following his comments, Butker, a devout Christian, said he does not regret expressing his beliefs and values his religion more than football.
“It’s a decision I made consciously and I don’t regret it at all,” she said at the Regina Caeli Academy’s Courage Under Fire Gala in Nashville, Tennessee, on May 24.
Butker, 28, ranks second in NFL history for career field goal percentage (89.1 percent).
He visited the White House with his Chiefs teammates after his controversial speech in May.
The NFL distanced itself from Butker’s comments after the kicker’s commencement speech. The league said the comments and “opinions are not those of the NFL as an organization.”
For his part, Mahomes said Butker is entitled to his beliefs, even if he doesn’t always agree with his teammate.
Speaking about Butker on his ‘New Heights’ podcast, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce said he appreciates Butker as a teammate.
“As far as his opinions and what he said in his commencement speech, that’s what it says,” Kelce said. “I can’t say I agree with most of his opinions or much of anything other than he loves his family and his kids.
“And I don’t think I should judge him on his views, especially his religious views, on how to approach life; that’s not who I am.”
