The Kansas City Chiefs are back in the spotlight, but this time it has nothing to do with their performance at the Super Bowl.
On Saturday, May 11, 2024, kicker Harrison Butker delivered a controversial graduation speech at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas.
Butker’s remarks, filled with sexist and homophobic comments, have sparked significant backlash. Among the critics is the National Football League (NFL), which swiftly distanced itself from Butker’s statements, saying that his words did not represent the organization or its values.
Jonathan Beane, the NFL’s senior vice president and chief diversity and inclusion officer, made a clear distinction between Butker’s personal views and those of the NFL. “Harrison Butker gave a speech in his personal capacity,” Beane’s statement read, as per AP. “His views are not those of the NFL as an organization. The NFL is steadfast in our commitment to inclusion, which only makes our league stronger.”
During his speech, Butker addressed the women in the audience with controversial statements. “The women present in the audience have had the most diabolical lies told to you,” he declared. He suggested that while women might be looking forward to their future “successful careers in the world,” this was not the right aspect of life to focus on. Instead, he advocated for women to channel their aspirations towards becoming homemakers and mothers.
Butker also turned his attention to the men, criticizing contemporary societal views on masculinity. “Part of what plagues our society is this lie that has been told to you that men are not necessary in the home or in our communities. As men, we set the tone of the culture,” he stated, via Pink News. He encouraged men to be “unapologetic in your masculinity” and to “fight against the cultural emasculation of men.”
Additionally, Butker criticized Pride Month, an annual celebration of the LGBTQ+ community every June. He referred to it as a “deadly sin sort of pride that has a month dedicated to it.”
The reaction to Butker’s speech has been swift and intense. Advocacy groups and social media users alike have condemned his remarks, arguing that they only perpetuate harmful stereotypes and contribute to a culture of exclusion.
“We should normalize shaming weirdos like Harrison Butker who use their religion as an excuse to have absolutely horrendous and sexist views,” one user posted on X.
On the other hand, many people argued in favor of Butker’s comments, with one person tweeting: “Harrison Butker has dominated the media the past week for merely saying women can be happy in traditional roles The hysteria is ridiculous, but it’s a testament to how rare passion-filled truth speakers are. Be more like Harrison Butker.”
Benedictine College has also faced scrutiny for allowing such a speech at their commencement ceremony. The college administration has yet to issue a formal statement addressing the incident, leaving many to question the institution’s stance on the controversial views expressed by Butker.
As the backlash continues, the incident only highlights the ongoing tensions between personal beliefs and public responsibilities, especially for individuals in high-profile positions.
