NFL star Harrison Butker, kicker for the Kansas City Chiefs, sparked controversy by telling female graduates that being a “homemaker” should be considered one of their key roles in life.
Butker also expressed criticism of abortion and LGBT Pride marches during a speech at Benedictine College in Kansas.
The Chiefs have not yet responded to the comments made by the three-time Super Bowl champion. The NFL described the matter as “personal.”
A petition calling for the dismissal of the 28-year-old has gathered nearly 160,000 signatures.
During his 20-minute speech at the Catholic private college last Saturday, he told female students they had been deceived by “the most diabolical lies.”
“Some of you may go on to lead successful careers in the world, 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,” he said.
Butker mentioned that his wife truly began living her life when “she began living her vocation as a wife and as a mother.”
He praised his wife, Isabelle Butker, for taking on what he called one of the most significant roles: homemaker. He became visibly emotional while discussing his marriage.
His address also condemned IVF, surrogacy, what he termed “degenerate cultural values,” “dangerous gender ideologies,” and “the tyranny of diversity, equity, and inclusion.”
Butker criticized President Joe Biden, noting, “Our nation is led by a man who publicly and proudly proclaims his Catholic faith, but… has been so vocal in his support for the murder of innocent babies.”
The league distanced itself from his remarks, clarifying they were made in a personal capacity and do not reflect the NFL’s views.
GLAAD, an LGBT advocacy group, labeled Butker’s comments as “woefully out of step with Americans.”
The remarks also drew significant criticism on social media. Stefanie Hills, a former NFL cheerleader for the Chiefs, responded on TikTok by highlighting the irony in Butker’s repeated advice to “stay in your lane.”
However, many conservatives applauded his speech, and even liberal comedian Whoopi Goldberg defended his right to express his opinions.
“These are his beliefs, and he’s welcome to them. I don’t have to believe them, right? I don’t have to accept them,” she told her co-panelists on ABC’s The View.
His teammates, including quarterback Patrick Mahomes, have largely remained silent about the controversy. Mahomes mentioned on The Pat McAfee Show that he rarely interacts with Butker.
Meanwhile, Missouri’s Attorney General vowed to investigate an incident where Harrison Butker’s address was allegedly disclosed through a Kansas City government-run social media account.
The post that revealed the neighborhood where the Butker family resides appeared on a publicly accessible account on X, previously known as Twitter, managed by the city.
Andrew Bailey, the Attorney General, stated that the investigation would determine if the disclosure violated the Missouri Human Rights Act by targeting Butker for openly expressing his religious views.
The message was removed approximately two hours later. Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas has issued an apology for the post, describing it as “clearly inappropriate.”
Butker has been a player for the Chiefs since 2017, set a team record in 2022 with a 62-yard field goal, and contributed to the team’s first Super Bowl victory in 50 years in 2020.
