Kansas City Chiefs Kicker Sparks Controversy with Conservative Commencement Speech at Benedictine College
Harrison Butker, the kicker for the Kansas City Chiefs, stirred up a storm with his polarizing conservative commencement speech at Benedictine College, sparking backlash and calls for actions online.
Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker delivered a polarizing commencement speech at Benedictine College, a Catholic liberal arts school in Kansas, on Saturday, May 11, 2024. Butker, a devout Catholic, used the 20-minute address to share his conservative views, challenging cultural values, criticizing COVID-19 lockdowns, opposing abortion and Pride month, and suggesting that women should prioritize homemaking over careers.
Butker’s remarks, particularly those urging women to focus on being homemakers and avoid using birth control, drew significant backlash online. Social media platforms quickly filled with critical memes, response videos, and calls for action, with many demanding that the NFL take steps against Butker. A Change.org petition calling for his dismissal from the Chiefs has garnered over 100,000 signatures.
The NFL issued a statement distancing itself from Butker’s views, emphasizing its commitment to inclusion. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Chargers took a lighter approach, playfully trolling Butker in a schedule release video. Public figures like Whoopi Goldberg defended Butker’s right to his beliefs, while others, including former NFL personalities and team supporters, condemned his comments. As the controversy continues, the Chiefs and Benedictine College have yet to officially comment.
