Catherine Rusoff
Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid and the team’s star quarterback Patrick Mahomes stand alongside the kicker Harrison Butker, who faced backlash after giving a controversial commencement speech at Benedictine College earlier this month.
Butker shared controversial thoughts on many topics during her speech — Pride Month, COVID-19 and women in the workplace among them. Her speech at the private Catholic liberal arts school in Atchison, Kansas, went viral, and although many people online condemned her words, his shirt became one of the best sellers after graduation.
Speaking with reporters After organized team activities, Mahomes said he has known Butker for seven years and judges him by his everyday character, saying he is a good person.
“This is someone who cares about the people around him, cares about his family and wants to make a good impact on society,” Mahomes said. “When you’re in the locker room, there are a lot of people from different walks of life and they have very different opinions about everything. And we’re not always going to agree.”
During her speech, Butker addressed the women graduates, saying they had been told “diabolical lies.” “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,” he said. “I can say 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.”
He also attacked what he called “dangerous gender ideologies,” apparently referring to the LGBTQ celebration of Pride month, and criticized the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Things like abortion, in vitro fertilization, surrogacy, euthanasia, as well as growing support for cultural values and degenerate media, all result from the spread of disorder,” he said.
Mahomes said there are things Butker said he doesn’t necessarily agree with. “But I understand the person he is and he’s trying to do everything he can to try to lead people in the right direction,” Mahomes said. “And they may not be the same values as me, but at the same time, I’m going to judge him by the values that he shows every day, and that’s a great person.”
Likewise, Reid defended Butker’s character, saying at the press conference that he talks to the kicker all the time – but didn’t talk to him about it. “I didn’t think it was necessary. We’re a microcosm of life here. We’re from different backgrounds, different religions, different races. We all get along. We all respect each other’s opinions. And we don’t necessarily go for them, but we respect that everyone has a voice.” . That’s what’s great about America, man. We’re just a microcosm of that, and I wish — my wish is that everyone can follow that,” Reid said.
