Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker found himself embroiled in controversy following his commencement address at Benedictine College, where he veered into contentious territory with comments deemed both sexist and antisemitic.
Butker’s speech, delivered to the 2024 graduating class, stirred widespread backlash for its disparaging remarks about women’s roles and propagation of misinformation regarding congressional legislation.
Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker gave a sexist, antisemitic speech in which he falsely claimed Congress “passed a bill where stating something as basic as the Biblical teaching of who killed Jesus could land you in jail."
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Sexist undertones in Butker’s speech
Butker directed his remarks primarily at the female graduates, urging them to prioritize marriage and motherhood over professional aspirations.
“I want to speak directly to you briefly because I think it is you, the women, who have had the most diabolical lies told to you,” Butker said in his commencement speech.
“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 went on to describe how his wife, Isabelle, never achieved her “dream of having a career,” but that “if you ask her today if she has any regrets on her decision, she would laugh out loud without hesitation, and say, ‘Hey, no.’”
Misinterpretation of congressional legislation
However, it was Butker’s reference to congressional legislation that ignited a firestorm of condemnation.
Butker claimed that “Congress just passed a bill where stating something as basic as the Biblical teaching of who killed Jesus could land you in jail.
The bill in question, aimed at curbing antisemitic speech on college campuses, was framed by Butker as an attack on religious freedom, drawing parallels to Catholic doctrine.
Conservative lawmakers opposed the bill, alleging it would criminalize interpretations of scripture. Yet, experts clarified that the legislation targeted university funding, not individuals, and had not been enacted into law.
Butker’s misinterpretation of Catholic teachings and propagation of antisemitic tropes drew swift condemnation from religious and advocacy groups.
Butker’s remarks extended beyond religious discourse, delving into the contentious issue of abortion.
He said, “things like abortion, IVF, surrogacy, euthanasia, as well as a growing support for degenerative cultural values in media all stem from the pervasiveness of disorder.”
He specifically criticized Joe Biden for being pro-choice, saying that the president “proclaims his Catholic faith, but at the same time is delusional enough to make the sign of the cross during a pro-abortion rally.”
Did Butler’s remarks cross the line?
The controversy surrounding Butker’s address underscores the intersection of sports, religion, and politics, highlighting the responsibilities which public figures bear in shaping discourse.
As debates over free speech and religious freedom persist, Butker’s missteps serves as a cautionary tale about the perils of misinformation and the need for informed dialogue in the public sphere.
