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Backlash against Harrison Butker grows: NFL wades in to say it does NOT support his controversial comments, leaders say he does not represent Kansas City and petition to cut him from Chiefs surges past 80,000
The backlash against Chiefs star Harrison Butker continues to grow with the NFL issuing a statement distancing the organization from his commencement speech in which he told women they should aspire to be homemakers.
That press release came as the petition to have him removed from the Super Bowl champion's roster closes in on 100,000 signatures. It was set up just a day after his address at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas.
Despite the outrage, the field goal kicker's remarks were met with some applause by the crowd.
Butker, 28, who's made his conservative Catholic beliefs well known, also assailed Pride month, a particularly important time for the LGBTQ+ rights movement, and President Joe Biden's stance on abortion as well as Covid-19 policies.
'Bad policies and poor leadership have negatively impacted major life issues. Things like abortion, IVF, surrogacy, euthanasia, as well as a growing support for degenerate cultural values and media all stem from pervasiveness of disorder,' Butker ranted.
The Georgia-native even quoted self-made billionaire Taylor Swift, although he only referred to her as his 'teammate's girlfriend,' thanks to her relationship with tight end Travis Kelce.
'As my teammate's girlfriend says, "familiarity breeds contempt,"' he told the audience, referring to Swift's song Bejeweled from her 2022 album Midnights.
The NFL's chief DEI officer has now stepped in to make it clear that Butker's statements were 'personal' and do not reflect the league's efforts to make football more inclusive.
Harrison Butker of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates on the field with his wife Isabelle and their son after defeating the Tennessee Titans in the AFC Championship Game at Arrowhead Stadium on January 19, 2020 in Kansas City, Missouri
The 2017 seventh-round pick out of Georgia Tech has become of the NFL's best kickers, breaking the Chiefs' franchise record with a 62-yard field goal in 2022
As of Thursday morning writing, the petition demanding Butker be removed from the Chiefs has surpassed 80,000 signatures
'Harrison Butker gave a speech in his personal capacity. 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,' the league's chief diversity and inclusion officer, Jonathan Beane, said.
'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,' Beane, who is also a senior vice president, said.
As of Thursday morning, the Change.org petition, 'Demand the Kansas City Chiefs to Dismiss Harrison Butker for Discriminatory Remarks,' has over 80,000 signatures.
'These dehumanizing remarks against LGBTQ+ individuals, attacks on abortion rights and racial discrimination perpetuate division and undermine human rights,' it also said.
The blurb for the petition described the speech as 'sexist, homophobic, anti-trans, anti-abortion and racist.'
By comparison, a petition titled 'I Support Kansas City Chiefs Kicker Harrison Butker' has a mere 800 signatures.
Former Kansas City commissioner Justice Horn also slammed Butker in a social media post, writing, 'Harrison Butker doesn't represent Kansas City nor has he ever. Kansas City has always been a place that welcomes, affirms, and embraces our LGBTQ+ community members
Butker's comments have been reverberating around the internet for days now.
'I think it is you, the women, who have had the most diabolical lies told to you,' the Georgia Tech graduate said.
'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.
'I can tell you that my beautiful wife Isabelle would be the first to say that her life truly started when she started living her vocation as a wife and as a mother.'
Butker said that his wife embraced 'one of the most important titles of all. Homemaker.'
He also criticized as disparaging to the Catholic Church an article by The Associated Press highlighting a shift toward conservativism in some parts of the church.
The three-time Super Bowl champion delivered his roughly 20-minute address Saturday at the Catholic private liberal arts school in Atchison, Kansas, which is located about 60 miles miles north of Kansas City.
He received a standing ovation from graduates and other attendees.
Butler referred to a 'deadly sin sort of pride that has a month dedicated to it' in an oblique reference to Pride month.
Butler also took aim at Biden's policies, including his condemnation of the Supreme Court's reversal of the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision and advocacy for freedom of choice — a key campaign issue in the 2024 presidential race.
Biden, who is Catholic, has a fraught history on the issue. He initially opposed the Roe v. Wade decision, saying it went too far. He also opposed federal funding for abortions and supported restrictions on abortions later in pregnancy.
Butker also tackled Biden's response to COVID-19, which has killed nearly 1.2 million people in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
'While COVID might have played a large role throughout your formative years, it is not unique,' he said.
'Bad policies and poor leadership have negatively impacted major life issues. Things like abortion, IVF, surrogacy, euthanasia, as well as a growing support for degenerate cultural values and media all stem from pervasiveness of disorder.'
Harrison Butker of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates with his children after kicking the go ahead field goal to beat the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII at State Farm Stadium on February 12, 2023 in Glendale, Arizona
Butker detailed his beliefs about gender roles for men and women at Benedictine College
Graduates had mixed views on the speech. ValerieAnne Volpe, 20, who graduated with an art degree, lauded Butker for saying things that 'people are scared to say.'
'You can just hear that he loves his wife. You can hear that he loves his family,' she said.
Elle Wilbers, 22, who is heading to medical school, said she was shocked by Butker's criticism of priests and bishops and his reference to the LGBTQ+ community, one that she described as 'horrible.'
'We should have compassion for the people who have been told all their life that the person they love is like, it's not OK to love that person,' Wilbers said.
Kassidy Neuner, 22, who will spend a gap year teaching before going to law school, said being a stay-at-home parent is 'a wonderful decision.'
'And it's also not for everybody,' Neuner added, saying, 'I think that he should have addressed more that it's not always an option. And, if it is your option in life, that's amazing for you. But there's also the option to be a mother and a career woman.'
The Chiefs declined to comment on Butker's commencement address.
The 2017 seventh-round pick out of Georgia Tech has become of the NFL's best kickers, breaking the Chiefs' franchise record with a 62-yard field goal in 2022.
Butker helped them win their first Super Bowl in 50 years in 2020, added a second Lombardi Trophy in 2023, and he kicked the field goal that forced overtime in a Super Bowl win over San Francisco in February.