Harrison Butker Stands Up for Controversial Speech About Women as Wives, Mothers
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Harrison Butker
Tommaso Boddi/FilmMagicKicker for the Kansas City Chiefs Harrison Butker he stands by his controversial words during his recent speech.
Butker, 29, was criticized for his comments about women during a commencement speech at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, in May. Butker encouraged women to embrace being wives and mothers and said the role of “homemaker” is “one of the most important titles of all.”
Butker appeared to back down twice on Wednesday, August 7, when he spoke to the Kansas City media at the Chiefs’ preseason training camp.
“Regarding what I said, I prayed about it and thought about it, and I was very serious about what I said and I stand behind what I said,” said the kicker, in all the photos shared by X. “I really believe if people knew me as a person and understood that I come from a place of love, not a place of trying to attack or put people down … I only want the best for people.”
Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker has caused controversy after making comments about gender roles and the LGBTQIA+ community during a graduation speech. Butker, 28, served as the valedictorian of the graduating class at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas on Saturday, May 11. During his remarks, the athlete singled out the female graduates. “For the women who are there […]
“That’s what I was trying to say there. The people in that gymnasium all understood what I was saying,” he added.
In May’s commencement address, Butker spoke directly to the graduating women in the audience, who she said had “been told the worst lie.”
“How many of you are sitting here right now, about to cross this stage, and you’re thinking about all the promotions and titles you’re going to get in your career?” Butter said. “Some of you may go on to lead successful careers in the world, but I would venture to guess that most of you are very happy with your marriage and the children you will bring into this world.”
#Chiefs Kicker Harrison Butker spoke to local media at training camp for the first time since his May debut at Benedictine.
Here are his thoughts in part, especially the feedback he received: pic.twitter.com/9wjQxmShTv
— Marleah Campbell (@MarleahKCTV5) August 7, 2024
Butker then spoke of his wife, Isabelle, who said she would be “the first to say that her life began when she began to live her vocation as a wife and as a mother.” He praised Isabelle for being the reason that “he is the man I am because I have a wife who sticks to her calling.”
Butker’s comments drew criticism from other footballers, including Jason Kelceand a tennis legend Serena Williams.
Asked about his comments about women during a press conference on Wednesday, Butker said he did not intend to “put women down.”
“My whole career I have talked about how I am a man and a father before it came to me as a kicker – something I always preach,” he said. “If I use that to talk about women and say that they should accept and love being wives and mothers in their work … I think it is understood that I am trying to look down on women, which I do not see at all. I love women, I love my wife, and she comes from a place of love.”
Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker has sung the praises of his family over the years. “Growing up my mother was my biggest supporter, guiding me to be the man I was supposed to be,” Harrison wrote in a May 2020 Mother’s Day quote shared by X by the Kansas City Chiefs. “Now, I’m blessed to have it […]
Butker continued, “You know, my wife had never heard me speak in public and she was there at the time … I was emotional watching her cry and I understood that she sacrificed so much for me. She completely turned her life around, and made sure she focused on being the ultimate wife and the ultimate mother.”
“I love him so much, and I see how happy and excited he is every day to wake up and embrace that life,” the kicker added. “He forces me to be a better husband and a better father, and focus on my three kids and focus on him, maybe try to be the best kicker I can be on that field.”
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