Harrison Butker has lost no time in responding to Serena Williams’ ESPYs dig at him, as the Chiefs kicker said that the tennis star gave ‘an opportunity to disinvite’ those who disagree with her.
Butker, who’s come under fire since delivering a commencement speech at a private liberal arts college in Kansas earlier this summer, released a statement on Friday just 24 hours after Williams said, ‘You can enjoy women’s sports, just like any other sport, because they are sports,’ at the ESPYs on Thursday night in LA.
At one point, while her sister, Venus, urged attendees and fans to support women’s sports, Serena also said: ‘Except you, Harrison Butker. We don’t need you.’ Comedian Quinta Brunson, who was also on stage at the time, added: ‘At all, like ever.’
Butker, who drew criticism from his commencement speech at Benedictine College in May, in which he encouraged female graduates to embrace being ‘homemakers,’ initially complimented Williams in his statement.
‘I thought Mrs. Williams was a great host and applaud her for using her platform to express her beliefs on a variety of topics,’ the 28-year-old Chiefs kicker told NBC Sports. ‘Sports are supposed to be the great unifier.
‘And at an event dedicated to celebrating a diverse group of men and women who have accomplished great feats, she used it as an opportunity to disinvite those with whom she disagrees with from supporting fellow athletes,’ he added.
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After his speech on May 25, Butker – a three-time Super Bowl champion – said he had had no regrets about expressing his beliefs and said he actually received support as well as ‘a shocking level of hate’ from others.
On top of his comments on women, Butker argued some Catholic leaders were ‘pushing dangerous gender ideologies onto the youth of America;’ referred to a ‘deadly sin sort of pride that has a month dedicated to it’ in an oblique reference to Pride month; and took aim at US President Joe Biden’s policies, including his condemnation of the Supreme Court’s reversal of the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision.
‘It is now, over the past few days, my beliefs or what people think I believe have been the focus of countless discussions around the globe,’ Butker – a devout Catholic – said.
‘At the outset, many people expressed a shocking level of hate. But as the days went on, even those who disagreed with my viewpoints shared their support for my freedom of religion.’
Butker said he understands being criticized for his performance on the field, adding that he values his religion more than football.
‘It’s a decision I’ve consciously made and one I do not regret at all,’ he said.
The NFL has distanced itself from Butker’s comments. The league said the comments and ‘views are not those of the NFL as an organization.’
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes said his teammate is entitled to his beliefs, even though he doesn’t always agree with him.
Speaking about Butker on his ‘New Heights’ podcast, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce said he cherishes Butker as a teammate.
‘When it comes down to his views and what he said at (the) commencement speech, those are his,’ Kelce said.
‘I can’t say I agree with the majority of it or just about any of it outside of just him loving his family and his kids. And I don’t think that I should judge him by his views, especially his religious views, of how to go about life, that’s just not who I am.’
