Chiefs' Harrison Butker blasted for commencement speech encouraging women to be homemakers (2024)

Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker has aggravated one of the internet's biggest culture wars by telling a class of college graduates that one of the “most important” titles a woman can hold is homemaker.

During a commencement speech last weekend at Benedictine College, a Catholic liberal arts school in Atchison, Kansas, the NFL player railed against abortion, Pride month and Covid-19 lockdown measures.

Drawing the most viral backlash this week, however, was a section of his speech in which he addressed the female graduates specifically —telling them that it’s women who have had “the most diabolical lies” told to them.

“How many of you are sitting here now, about to cross this stage, and are thinking about all the promotions and titles you are going to get in your career? Some of you may go on to lead successful careers in the world,” Butker said. “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.”

The criticisms that followed took aim at Butker as well as the NFL.

Chiefs' Harrison Butker blasted for commencement speech encouraging women to be homemakers (1)

"Hey @NFL — If you want to continue to grow your female fan base and any other marginalized group (straight white men are already watching your product), come get your boy," wrote Lisa Guerrero, a former NFL sideline reporter and now an investigative journalist for "Inside Edition."

He went on to tell the graduates that his wife would agree that her life “truly started when she began living her vocation as a wife and as a mother.” It is her embrace of this role, he said, that made his own professional success possible.

Butker’s comments share similarities with some of the more extreme ideas around gender roles that have gained traction in communities that promote “tradwife” lifestyles or other relationship dynamics that center on traditional gender roles.

“Listen, there’s nothing wrong with his wife being a homemaker. Homemakers are wonderful, that’s not the point,” filmmaker Michael McWhorter, known by his more than 6 million TikTok followers as TizzyEnt, said in a video response. “The point is he seemed to be acting as if you should be ashamed if you don’t want to be a homemaker, or, ‘I know what you really want to do is just stay home and have babies.’"

The speech was the latest incident to add fuel to the flames of this increasingly vocal cultural battle, much of which is playing out online. While many prominent right-wing men have voiced such beliefs before, they’re usually confined to internet forums, podcasts and other online communities where these ideologies thrive.

A spokesperson for Butker did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Benedictine College and the Kansas City Chiefs did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

A spokesperson for the NFL told People Magazine that Butker "gave a speech in his personal capacity" and 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," a spokesperson told the publication.

Butker, who is teammates with Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, further drew surprise and criticism when he quoted Kelce’s girlfriend, Taylor Swift, whose monumental career success as a global pop star has inspired college courses.

“As my teammate’s girlfriend says, ‘familiarity breeds contempt,’” he said, drawing murmurs from the crowd as he used the “Bejeweled” lyric as an analogy for why Catholic priests should not become “overly familiar” with their parishioners.

In the days since his speech, a Change.org petition for the Chiefs to dismiss Butker for “discriminatory remarks” has garnered nearly 19,000 signatures.

“These comments reinforce harmful stereotypes that threaten social progress,” the petition stated. “They create a toxic environment that hinders our collective efforts towards equality, diversity and inclusion in society. It is unacceptable for such a public figure to use their platform to foster harm rather than unity.”

Those who criticized Butker’s speech online include actor Bradley Whitford as well as DJ and rapper (and self-proclaimed Swiftie) Flavor Flav.

But his speech was also lauded by some on the religious right, including conservative sports media personalities such as Clay Travis and Jason Whitlock, who defended Butker’s statements toward women.

“Not a word Harrison Butker says here should be remotely controversial. He’s 100% correct,” former NFL wide receiver T.J. Moe posted on X. “Those trying to convince women that being assistant VP of lending & intentionally childless at age 40 is more fulfilling than making a family and home are evil.”

Sports and culture commentator Jon Root also posted that Butker “exposed the lies that the world has been telling women.” Women, he wrote, are wrongly encouraged to climb the corporate ladder, view children as a “burden” and see marriage as “not worth pursuing.”

Still, a deluge of viewers online took issue with his attitude toward women and the LGBTQ community. Many women also rejected the premise that they would be happier staying at home in lieu of paid work, even if they do have a husband and children.

“I am moved. I actually had no idea that my life began when I met my husband,” neurosurgeon Betsy Grunch, known as Ladyspinedoc on TikTok, said sarcastically in a TikTok video. “It did not begin when I graduated magna cum laude from the University of Georgia with honors. It certainly did not begin when I graduated with a 4.0 GPA, Alpha Omega Alpha, from medical school. And I had no idea that it did not begin when I completed my residency in neurosurgery.”

Angela Yang

Angela Yang is a culture and trends reporter for NBC News.

Chiefs' Harrison Butker blasted for commencement speech encouraging women to be homemakers (2024)

FAQs

Chiefs' Harrison Butker blasted for commencement speech encouraging women to be homemakers? ›

In front of the crowd of about 485 male and female graduates, Butker suggested that a woman's accomplishments in the home are more valuable than any academic or professional goals. “I want to speak directly to you briefly because I think it is you, the women, who have had the most diabolical lies told to you,” he said.

What does Harrison Butker say about gender? ›

As The Blast previously reported, Butker, who spoke at Benedictine College earlier this month, told the men of the graduating class to “be unapologetic in your masculinity” and indicated to the women to be like his wife and “embrace one of the most important titles of all: homemaker.”

What is the petition against the Chiefs kicker? ›

The Change.org petition, which came in the wake of Butker's controversial commencement address at Benedictine College last weekend, describes the 28-year-old kicker's “dehumanizing” speech as “sexist, homophobic, anti-trans, anti-abortion and racist.”

What was the controversial speech in the NFL? ›

In the speech, Butker referred to Pride Month – the annual LGBTQ celebration that takes place in June – as "the deadly sin sort of pride," saying that some Catholics are "pushing dangerous gender ideologies onto the youth of America." He called Biden "delusional" for believing that one can be both a true Catholic and a ...

How much money does Harrison Butker make? ›

The extension starts after the 2019 season; for the coming year, the third of his rookie deal, Butker will earn $645,000. He'll make $8 million over the 2020-21 seasons.

What did Harrison Butker say about Taylor Swift? ›

During the 20-minute speech, Butker quoted a lyric written by Taylor Swift, referring to her through her boyfriend Travis Kelce by calling her his "teammate's girlfriend." "As my teammate's girlfriend says, 'familiarity breeds contempt,' " Butker said.

Who is the homemaker kicker in the NFL? ›

Harrison Butker: NFL distances itself from Kansas City Chiefs kicker's speech on women as 'homemakers' | US News | Sky News.

Which president almost banned football? ›

President Theodore Roosevelt met with Needham to discuss their shared concerns. Needham advocated “strict adherence to the amateur athletic code,” an idea Roosevelt supported. TR never thought football should be abolished, but he did support rule changes to make the game safer.

What is the controversy with the football star? ›

An NFL star has courted controversy by telling female graduates that one of their most important roles in life will be "homemaker". Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker also criticised abortion and LGBT Pride in a speech at Benedictine College, Kansas.

What football player gave a commencement speech? ›

NFL's Harrison Butker is slammed for speech on women, abortion Harrison Butker of the Kansas City Chiefs urged female graduates to embrace the title of "homemaker" in a controversial commencement speech. The NFL says he was speaking "in his personal capacity."

Is Harrison Butker an engineer? ›

Butker is the all-time leading scorer in school history and was a captain of the team for his senior season. In his collegiate career, Butker converted 208-of-210 extra point attempts and 43-of-60 field goal attempts. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering.

Does Harrison Butker have a wife? ›

Who has the lowest salary in the NFL? ›

While Tyrone Swoopes won the reigning title of the lowest-paid NFL player in 2021, looking at the low end of league earners isn't as simple. NFL players face different minimum values that depend on their contract and designation as active or inactive players.

What is the NFL kicker controversy? ›

The NFL has responded to Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker's controversial commencement speech at Benedictine College, where he urged women to be homemakers and railed against Pride Month. The league said in a statement to CBS News that it doesn't hold his views.

Does Harrison Butker have kids? ›

Personal life. Butker is married with two children.

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