Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker is facing major backlash after delivering a commencement speech to the class of 2024 on the campus of Benedictine College on May 11.
While the NFL player spoke for 20 minutes to the Catholic college’s small graduating class, video of the speech went viral, and netizens had a lot to say.
During Butker’s speech he spoke on a range of topics including Pride month, women’s roles in the home, reproductive issues, President Biden, masculinity, and more.
“While COVID might have played a large role throughout your formative years, it is not unique,” he began. “The 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 the pervasiveness of disorder.”
The 28-year-old took time to separately address both the men and women in the graduating class, first telling the women they had been told “the most diabolical lies.”
“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.
He went on to explain how his wife’s life “really started when she began living her vocation as a wife and as a mother.”
“I’ve seen firsthand how much happier someone can be when they disregard the outside noise and move closer and closer to God’s will for life. Isabelle’s dream of having a career might not have come true, but if you ask her today if she has any regrets on her decision, she would laugh out loud without hesitation and say no.”
Butker also encouraged the men of the class of 2024 to be “unapologetic in your masculinity.”
“Let’s be honest, there is nothing good about playing God with having children, whether that be your ideal number or the perfect time to conceive,” he said, speaking on reproductive issues. “No matter how you spin it, there is nothing natural about Catholic birth control.”
Once word got out of the three-time Super Bowl Champion’s commencement speech, people on the internet had a field day. Even former Kansas City commissioner Justice Horn responded to Butker’s speech.
“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,” Horn wrote on X.
“Commencement address at the University of Misogyny.”
“I just love it when men think they know what’s best for women.”
“Dude kicks a football and wants to act like he knows what’s best for everyone.”
“Wonder if the seven women in the Chiefs front office appreciate his advice.”
“The NFL is such a rotten backwards institution that was rightfully on the decline for years until a certain superstar decided she would lend her name to its rehabilitation. Testosterone filled bodies with concussed brains have no business giving commencement speeches. How insulting to the women who were forced to sit through this nonsense.”
Watch the speech here:
What do you think of Harrison Butker’s commencement speech? Let us know your thoughts in the comments on Facebook.
READ MORE:
- Valedictorian’s faith-based commencement speech goes viral
- Valedictorian with nonverbal autism delivers moving commencement speech at Rollins College
