Catherine Rusoff
Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker criticized Pride Month, working women, President Biden’s leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic and abortion during a commencement address at Benedictine College last weekend.
The three times Super Bowl Champion delivered approximately 20 minute address Saturday at the private Catholic liberal arts school in Atchison, Kansas, located about 60 miles north of Kansas City.
Butker, who has made his conservative Catholic beliefs well known, began his speech by attacking what he called “dangerous gender ideologies” in an apparent reference to Pride Month, which has been celebrated in June since the Stonewall riots in 1969. He also criticized a Associated Press article highlighting a shift toward conservatism in some parts of the Catholic Church.
Butker, 28, then took aim at Biden’s policies, including his response to 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 may have played a role throughout his formative years, it is not the only one,” he said. “Bad policies and weak leadership have had a negative impact on major life issues. Things like abortion, in vitro fertilization, surrogacy, euthanasia, as well as a growing support for degenerate cultural values and social media all result from the spread of disorder.”
Later, Butker addressed the women in attendance, arguing that her “most important title” should be that of “housewife.”
“I think it was you women who heard the most diabolical lies told,” Butker said. “Some of you may go on to successful careers in the world, but I would venture to guess that most of you are more 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 that her life really began when she began to live her calling as a wife and mother.”
The kicker from Decatur, Georgia, also cited Taylor Swift’s song “Bejeweled” when addressing the graduates.
“As my teammate’s girlfriend says, ‘familiarity breeds contempt,’” Butker said, referring to Travis Kelce.
Charles Riedel/AP
The kicker faced some backlash for the speech.
“One of the worst parts of this NFL player’s horrible speech is that he quoted a Taylor Swift song before telling women they should be housewives and serve their men’s careers,” OutSports wrote in a social media post.
Meanwhile, former Kansas City Commissioner Justice Horn wrote on social media: “Harrison Butker does not represent Kansas City and never has. Kansas City has always been a place that welcomes, affirms and embraces members of our LGBTQ+ community.”
The Chiefs declined to comment on Butker’s commencement speech.
The 2017 seventh-round pick from Georgia Tech has become one of the best kickers in the NFL, breaking the Chiefs’ franchise record with a 62-yard field goal in 2022. Butker helped them win their first Super Bowl in 50 years in 2020 , added a second Lombardi Trophy in 2023, and kicked the field goal that forced overtime in the Super Bowl victory over San Francisco in February.
However, it was an embarrassing offseason for the Chiefs.
Last month, voters in Jackson County, Missouri, soundly rejected a ballot initiative that would have helped pay for a downtown stadium for the Royals and an $800 million renovation of Arrowhead Stadium, the home of the Chiefs. Many voters criticized the plan presented by the Chiefs for catering mainly to VIPs and the wealthy.
The same week, wide receiver Rashee Rice turned himself in to Dallas police on multiple charges, including aggravated assault, after being involved in a high speed accident which left four people injured. Rice acknowledged being the driver of one of the sports cars going over 100 mph, and the video shows him leaving the scene without providing information or determining whether anyone needed medical attention.
Last week, law enforcement officials told The Dallas Morning News that Rice was also suspected of attack a person in a nightclub in the city center; Dallas police did not name Rice as a suspect in detailing a report to the Associated Press.
Chiefs coach Andy Reid said he spoke with the receiver and that the team was letting the legal process play out.
