How has the NFL responded to Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker’s controversial speech?
Following what was a controversial speech by the Chiefs’ kicker about everything from the LBGTQ+ to women’s roles in society, the NFL has now responded.
It’s been four days since Kansas City Chiefs kicker, Harrison Butker, delivered a provocative commencement speech at the graduation ceremony of a catholic college. While there has been considerable backlash, the NFL has seemingly chosen to respond to the situation with diplomacy.
Here’s what the NFL said in response to Harrison Butker’s speech
If you caught our previous report from a few days ago, then you will know that Kansas City Chiefs kicker, Harrison Butker, spoke to the 2024 graduates at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas. In his speech, Butker touched on a range of topics but most notably were his suggestions that women should aspire to be homemakers rather than seeking careers, that IVF is bad, that birth control is an issue, and that Pride month is sinful. As you can probably guess, there were many who were not happy with what the 28-year-old had to say, as social media erupted with responses. Yet the one response that was missing, was that of the NFL itself, until now.
According to reports, the league itself has now responded via NFL’s senior vice president and chief diversity and inclusion officer, Jonathan Beane, who said the kicker “gave a speech in his personal capacity.” Beane then went on to expand on Butker’s comments saying that “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.” Interestingly, both the Chiefs and Butker himself were reportedly contacted for comment but declined to respond.
Harrison Butker really went on a rant
Where specifics are concerned, Butker explained that women were told “the most diabolical lies” before going on to say that his wife’s life “really started when she began living her vocation as a wife and as a mother.” The three-time Super Bowl champion also described Pride month - a month long celebration of the LGBTQ+ commmunity held in June - as a “deadly sin sort of pride.”
Believe it or not, Butker didn’t stop there either as he also made time in his 20-minute discourse to criticize birth control and fertility treatments, declaring that “there is nothing good about playing God with having children,” before telling the young men in the audience to be “unapologetic in your masculinity.” There was also his take on the President Joe Biden’s handling of the covid-19 global pandemic, something he explained was a major part of the overall impact of the worldwide issue. “While COVID might have played a large role throughout your formative years, it is not unique,” he said. “Bad policies and poor leadership have negatively impacted major life issues. Things like abortion, IVF, surrogacy, euthanasia, as well as a growing support for degenerate cultural values and media all stem from pervasiveness of disorder.”
As stated before, it wasn’t long before social media was full of reactions to Butker’'s comments, with the Chiefs own Instagram page inundated with calls for a response.The speech was met with strong reactions across social media. “Cut Butker or lose fans. I would never want my younger brother or son to look up to him,” wrote one user. “His speech was demeaning, uneducated, misogynistic and laced in male insecurity.” It should also be said that there was staunch support - you can see it above - for Butker as well. Ultimately, we’ll let you be the judge.