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Kansas City Chiefs star Harrison Butker is slammed by Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager over controversial commencement speech - as critics demand he is CUT from NFL team over 'discriminatory remarks'
Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager have slammed Kansas City Chiefs football player Harrison Butker and ordered him to 'stop speaking for women' following a controversial commencement speech he made at Benedictine College.
Butker delivered a 20-minute speech last Saturday at the Catholic private liberal arts college in Kansas, where he claimed that his wife Isabelle's 'life truly started when she began living her vocation as a wife and as a mother,' and also voiced his conservative views on Pride month, abortion and President Biden's leadership during the Covid-19 pandemic.
During Thursday's episode of Today With Hoda & Jenna, a snippet of the moment played out and Jenna, 42, reacted furiously as she said sarcastically: 'Well, I'm where I am today because I have a husband who leans into his vocation, which is being an equal partner, and I tell him that all of the time.'
Hoda, 59, then commented: 'Don't speak for us! That's the thing, stop speaking for women out there,' as Jenna continued: 'I would just say this, we have all of these people that try to divide us by labels... people that stay at home are amazing, the work they do is incredible and let's not compare one to the other, by a man!'
Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager have shared their thoughts on Harrison Butker's controversial speech
Butker delivered a 20-minute speech last Saturday at the Catholic private liberal arts college in Kansas
Hoda then pointed out: 'And there are lots of women who actually would like to stay at home, but because they need to earn money, they don't even have that privilege.
'I think there is a thing about somebody speaking for... and he may be speaking for a lot of people, but you can't speak for everyone.'
Jenna claimed: 'I just think divisive commentary that makes women feel like they are better doing one thing than the other is not what we need,' as Hoda agreed and butted in: 'Women get to decide what they want to do!'
Jenna continued: 'None of the choices are easy. Did we learn nothing from America Ferrera's monologue in Barbie? It is hard to be a woman.
'He hasn't had the opportunity to do that yet so maybe when he comes back in his next life, he can give us a commencement speech about how we can live!' she ranted as Hoda started giggling.
Referring to her own husband, Jenna then divulged: 'But I will say, I wrote to Henry this morning because I came home, I was fired up about something, I had a long day at work.
'I went straight to host my baby sister's baby shower, then home to Henry. On the way home I was [doing] parenting logistics and stuff going on with kids, and I got home and I'm like, "I am so upset."
'He was steady and solid. I said I felt untethered and "you steadied me and I am so thankful that I have you." And what about that! Women, go find the man that helps you get all of this stuff accomplished.'
The Today hosts were not impressed with the football kicker's comments at all
Butker celebrates with his children after kicking the go ahead field goal to beat the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII at State Farm Stadium in February 2023
As of Thursday morning writing, the petition demanding Butker be removed from the Chiefs has surpassed 80,000 signatures
As the backlash against Butker continues to grow, the NFL issued a statement distancing the organization from his commencement speech, and made it clear that his statements were 'personal' and did not reflect the league's efforts to make football more inclusive.
'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, added.
As of Thursday morning, the Change.org petition, 'Demand the Kansas City Chiefs to Dismiss Harrison Butker for Discriminatory Remarks,' had over 105,800 signatures.
'These dehumanizing remarks against LGBTQ+ individuals, attacks on abortion rights and racial discrimination perpetuate division and undermine human rights,' it 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.