Serena Williams brought the heat at the 2024 ESPY Awards.
The tennis star didn’t hold back when she hosted the annual sports awards show at Los Angeles’ Dolby Theatre on July 11. During a segment highlighting the achievements of female athletes, Serena took a pointed jab at Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker, who recently faced criticism for controversial comments about women during a commencement speech at Benedictine College.
“Enjoy women’s sports, they’re just like other sports,” Venus Williams said, to which Serena added, “Except you, Harrison Butker.”
She continued with a sharp remark, “We don’t need you.”
While Butker was in attendance at the ceremony, his reaction was not caught on camera.
The barbs continued with presenter Quinta Brunson, who added dryly, “At all. Like, ever.”
Serena joins a list of celebrities speaking out against Butker’s remarks, which included suggesting that female graduates should look forward to marriage and motherhood as their primary goals.
In May, Maria Shriver voiced her concerns on social media, questioning Butker’s message to women about their life choices. “Did he really want them to believe that our lives truly only begin when we lean into the vocation of wife and mother?” she wrote, emphasizing the importance of women having the right to disagree.
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes also weighed in, stating he didn’t necessarily agree with all of Butker’s comments but understood his intentions to lead people in a positive direction.