Harrison Butker, the kicker for the Kansas City Chiefs, caused a lot of controversy with his commencement speech at the Benedictine College, Catholic university.
Butker berated working women plus the LGBTQ+ community as well as families who use in vitro fertilization (IVF) and surrogacy throughout his 20-minute speech. The outcry was instantaneous, and when PEOPLE requested comments, Butker and the Chiefs did not immediately reply. In a statement, Chief Diversity Officer of the NFL Jonathan Beane made it clear that Butker’s opinions were private and did not represent the league’s position on diversity and inclusion.
Harrison Butker does not, and has never represented Kansas City, according to former commissioner Justice Horn, who denounced Butker’s comments on X (previously known as Twitter). People who identify as LGBTQ+ have always felt accepted, validated, and supported in Kansas City.” However, Butker came under fire from rapper Flavor Flav, who advised him to refrain from speaking in public.
“Pretty awful to hear an NFL player so proudly tell women to’stay in their lane,’ serve their man, and make babies,” writer Cyd Zeigler said, expressing dismay. Additionally, hurling bombs at trans community and comparing Pride Month to a “deadly sin”
Here are a few of Butker’s more controversial remarks from the speech:
On Taylor Swift’s Lyric
When discussing Catholic principles, Butker cited Taylor Swift’s song “Bejeweled,” mistaking her line “familiarity breeds contempt” for support of his thesis. Swift’s admirers pointed out that, contrary to Butker’s interpretation, the song truly celebrates Swift’s independence.
On the Covid-19 Pandemic and President Joe Biden
After briefly discussing the COVID-19 pandemic’s effects on the class of 2024, Butker shifted to criticizing President Joe Biden plus the issues including euthanasia, IVF, abortion, and surrogacy. “Our own nation is led by a man who publicly and proudly proclaims his Catholic faith, but at the same time is delusional enough to make the sign of the cross,” he said, criticizing Biden’s actions and raising doubts about whether being Catholic and pro-choice could coexist.
On LGBTQ+ Pride
Taking aim at LGBTQ+ Pride, Butker contrasted it with “true God-centered pride.” He wrote, “Not the deadly sin sort of pride that has an entire month dedicated to it, but the true God-centered pride that is cooperating with the Holy Ghost to glorify him.”
On IVF and Surrogacy
Butker expressed disapproval towards the utilization of the IVF and surrogacy, stating, “Having children is not a nice way to play God. Whatever your point of view, Catholic birth control is not natural.” He made no secret of his support for natural conception and conventional family norms.
On Working Women
However, Butker cautioned that marriage and motherhood would provide the greatest source of fulfillment for the female graduates. “I’m on this stage today and able to be the man I am because I have a wife who leans into her vocation,” he said, praising his wife Isabelle for accepting her duty as a homemaker.
Ironically, Butker’s mother Elizabeth Butker works as a pretty successful physicist at the Emory University’s Department of the Radiation Oncology. Several people on social media brought this to readers’ attention.
On Masculinity
During his speech, Butker emphasized the value of traditional masculinity and advised the male graduates to embrace their identity without apology. Combat the societal devaluation of masculinity in culture. Strive for difficult things. Don’t ever accept something simple.” Even when such duties conflict with their natural inclinations, he exhorted men to accept roles that exalt God.
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Conclusion
“I know that my message today had a little less fluff than is expected for these speeches,” Butker said in closing, acknowledging the contentious nature of his speech. “I believe that this audience and this venue is the best place to speak openly and honestly about who we are and where we all want to go, which is heaven.”
Butker’s comments have sparked a larger discussion regarding the confluence of faith, personal convictions, and public speech as the dispute develops.
