Harrison Butker Stands by Controversial Speech Amid Criticism
Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker addresses his controversial commencement speech, stands by his views, and prepares for the upcoming NFL season.
Bollywood Fever: Harrison Butker spoke to local Kansas City media at training camp today, addressing his controversial May commencement speech at Benedictine College for the first time.
Butker became a lightning rod for suggesting that some female graduates anticipated becoming wives and mothers more than entering the working world. Despite the backlash, the Chiefs kicker is standing firm on his comments.
Butker recently signed a $25.6 million contract with the Chiefs, making him the highest-paid placekicker in the NFL. He is coming off a career-best season, hitting 94.3 percent of his field goal attempts and achieving a perfect 11-for-11 in field goals during the Chiefs’ most recent Super Bowl run.
Addressing the controversy, Butker said he “respected all the viewpoints” of those who disagreed with his speech, which also included criticisms of President Joe Biden’s handling of COVID-19, and comments on abortion, IVF, surrogacy, and euthanasia. “I prayed about it, I thought about it, and I was very intentional with what I said,” Butker explained. “I stand by what I said.”
He emphasized that his speech was meant to come from a place of love, not to put people down. “I really believe if people knew me as a person, and understood that it was coming from a place of love, and not a place of trying to attract or put people down,” Butker added. “I only want the best for people, that’s what I was trying to say there. I think the people that were in that gymnasium all understood what I was saying.”
Despite criticism from many in the sports world, including Serena Williams at the ESPY Awards and a former Chiefs cheerleader, Butker remains steadfast. “I’ve been in the league now seven years and I do have a platform,” Butker stated. “So with that comes people that want me to state what I believe to be very important.”
He concluded, “I’m going to continue to say what I believe to be true and love everyone along the way.”
As the Chiefs prepare for their quest for a third-straight championship, they will kick off the season against the Ravens on Sept. 5 during Thursday Night Football.
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