Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager criticized Kansas City Chiefs football player Harrison Butker and ordered him to “stop speaking on behalf of women” following a controversial commencement speech he gave at Benedictine College.
Butker gave a 20-minute speech last Saturday at the private Catholic liberal arts college in Kansas, where he said women should be “homemakers” instead of working and said his wife Isabelle’s life “truly began when she began to live her vocation as a wife and as a mother.’
During Thursday’s episode of Today With Hoda & Jenna, a clip of the moment was played and Jenna, 42, reacted furiously, sarcastically saying: ‘Well, I am where I am today because I have a husband who supports his calling, which is to be an equal partner, and I tell him that all the time.’
Hoda, 59, then commented: ‘Don’t speak for us! That’s the thing, stop talking for women,” as Jenna continued: “I would just say this, we have all these people trying to divide us by labels…the people who stay at home are amazing, the work they do! It’s amazing and let’s not compare one to the other, for a man!’
Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager shared their thoughts on Harrison Butker’s controversial speech
Butker gave a 20-minute speech last Saturday at the private Catholic liberal arts university in Kansas.
The Today hosts were not at all impressed with the football kicker’s comments.
During his speech at Benedictine College, Butker said that men should “fight cultural emasculation” and that women should be “housewives” instead of working.
Hoda then noted: ‘And there are a lot of women who would really like to stay at home, but because they need to make money, they don’t even have that privilege.
“I think there’s something about someone speaking for… and they may speak for a lot of people, but you can’t speak for everyone.”
Jenna stated, “I just think divisive comments that make women feel like they’re better at doing one thing than another isn’t what we need,” to which Hoda agreed and chimed in, “Women can decide what they want.” do!”.
Jenna continued: ‘None of the decisions are easy. Didn’t we learn anything from América Ferrera’s monologue in Barbie? It’s hard to be a woman.
“You haven’t had the chance to do that yet, so maybe when you come back in your next life, you can give us a graduation speech about how we can live.” —He yelled as Hoda started laughing.
Referring to her own husband, Jenna then revealed: “But I will say that I wrote to Henry this morning because I came home, I was excited about something, I had a long day at work.”
“I went straight to throwing my little sister’s baby shower and then home to Henry. On the way home I was [doing] parenting logistics and things that happen with kids, and I came home and said, “I’m so upset.”
“He was firm and solid. I told him I felt free and ‘you stabilized me and I’m so grateful to have you.’ And what about that! Women, find the man who will help you achieve all this.
Butker celebrates with his children after kicking the field goal to beat the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII at State Farm Stadium in February 2023.
As of Thursday morning, the petition calling for Butker’s dismissal from the Chiefs has surpassed 80,000 signatures.
As the backlash against Butker continues to grow, the NFL issued a statement distancing the organization from his commencement speech and made clear that his remarks were “personal” and do not reflect the league’s efforts to make football more inclusive.
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.
As of Thursday morning, the Change.org petition, ‘Demand Kansas City bosses fire Harrison Butker for discriminatory comments,’ has more than 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.
