Harrison Butker issued a response to a dig tennis legend Serena Williams made at the Kansas City Chiefs kicker while she hosted the 2024 ESPY Awards on Thursday. Butker called Williams a “great host” but said she used the event as an “opportunity to disinvite” those with whom she disagrees.
Williams discussed the year in women’s sports onstage with sister Venus Williams and “Abbott Elementary” star Quinta Brunson. Venus told the audience to “go ahead and enjoy women’s sports, like you would any other sports, because they are sports.”
Serena then added, “Except you, Harrison Butker. We don’t need you.”
“At all. Like, ever,” Brunson said.
Butker drew widespread criticism for a commencement speech he gave in May at Benedictine College in which he said a woman’s most important title is “homemaker,” among other controversial comments.
Butker attended Thursday’s ESPY Awards, but the telecast did not show his reaction to Williams’ jab. He later issued a statement addressing the comment.
“I thought Mrs. Williams was a great host and applaud her for using her platform to express her beliefs on a variety of topics,” Butker said in the statement, first reported by NBC News on Fridayand confirmed by The Athletic.
“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,” Butker’s statement said.
In his commencement speech, Butker referred to Pride Month as an example of the “deadly sins” as he advocated for a more conservative brand of Catholicism. He also said he wanted the graduating class to prevent political leaders from interfering with social issues that impact their relationship with the Catholic church, in addition to addressing gender ideologies.
“It is you, the women, who have had the most diabolic lies told to you,” Butker said during the 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.”
Butker previously doubled down on his stances, saying he did not regret his commencement address “at all.”
A few days after Butker delivered his speech, the NFL released a statement distancing itself from Butker’s comments and said his views are not the same as the league as an organization.
When asked about Butker’s speech at the league meetings in Nashville in May, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said the league has a “diversity of opinions and thoughts.”
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(Photo: Unique Nicole / AFP via Getty Images)
