Admin May 17, 2024
NFL player Harrison Butker gives controversial graduation speech
Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker spoke about the “diabolical lies” told to women and spoke against Pride Month during a graduation speech.
Although Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker’s controversial commencement speech at Benedictine College on Saturday garnered plenty of online backlash, the 28-year-old’s jersey sales appear to be doing well.
Butker’s jersey was listed among the NFL Shop’s top sellers, alongside dozens of other stars. The kicker’s jersey listing was tagged as “Most Popular in Kansas City Chiefs” on Friday.
Fans’ support for Butker does not seem to be fading even after he talked disparagingly about Pride Month, the transgender community, the COVID-19 pandemic and women. Critics of Butker’s speech highlight how he said women should aspire to be “homemakers.”
“I think it is you, the women, who have had the most diabolic lies told to you,” Butker said during the speech at Benedictine College. “Some of you may go on to lead successful careers in the world, but I would venture to guess that the majority of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into this world. I can tell you that my beautiful wife, Isabelle, would be the first to say her life truly started when she started living her vocation as a wife and as a mother.”
Opinion: NFL player Harrison Butker is correct about motherhood. He’s wrong about our choices.
NFL players make money off of jersey sales, as a small cut of the proceeds goes to the NFL Players Association and the player whose name is on the back of the uniform, multiple outlets have reported.
USA TODAY contacted the NFL on Friday but did not receive a response.
What did Harrison Butker say about Pride Month, COVID-19?
Butker’s criticism of gay pride also led to outrage, with the kicker claiming Pride month celebrates “dangerous gender ideologies”
“Not the deadly sins sort of pride that has an entire month dedicated to it,” Butker said. “The true God-centered pride that is cooperating with the holy ghost to glorify him.”
Butker’s speech also addressed COVID-19, which has killed nearly 1.2 million people in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“While COVID might have played a large role throughout your formative years, it is not unique,” Butker said. “The bad policies and poor leadership have negatively impacted major life issues. Things like abortion, IVF, surrogacy, euthanasia, as well as a growing support for the degenerate cultural values and media all stem from pervasiveness of disorder.”
Petition calls for Chiefs to ‘dismiss’ Butker
Nearly 190,000 people have signed a Change.org petition demanding the Chiefs “dismiss” the three-time Super Bowl champion.
“The harmful remarks made by Harrison Butker, kicker of the Kansas City Chiefs, during his commencement address at Benedictine College were unacceptable,” according to the petition page. “His comments were sexist, homophobic, anti-trans, anti-abortion and racist. These dehumanizing remarks against LGBTQ+ individuals, attacks on abortion rights and racial discrimination perpetuate division and undermine human rights.”
The next signature goal for the petition is 200,000, which may be reachable soon as more than 75,000 people signed on Friday, the petition page said.
“We demand accountability from our sports figures who should be role models promoting respect for all people regardless of their race, gender identity or sexual orientation,” according to the petitioners. “We call upon the Kansas City Chiefs management to dismiss Harrison Butker immediately for his inappropriate conduct.”