Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker is addressing criticism from tennis legend Serena Williams following his recent remarks about women. Williams called out Butker during the annual ESPN sports awards show on July 11 for his controversial comments made during a commencement speech at Benedictine College in Kansas.
During the awards show, Serena Williams and her sister Venus shared the stage with “Abbott Elementary” creator Quinta Brunson to spotlight women’s sports. Venus encouraged viewers to support women’s sports like any other, to which Serena added, “Except you, Harrison Butker. We don’t need you.” Brunson quickly echoed, “At all. Like, ever.”
The exchange, shared by the sports media website Awful Announcing, garnered over 70,000 likes on social media. Serena’s comment received mixed reactions, with applause and scattered boos from the audience. Butker, who attended the event in support of the Chiefs and teammate Patrick Mahomes, witnessed the moment firsthand.
Responding to NBC News, Butker described Williams as “a great host” and commended her for using her platform to voice her beliefs. However, he expressed disappointment that she used the occasion to exclude those with different viewpoints from supporting fellow athletes.
In his commencement speech in May, Butker addressed the audience, particularly the female graduates, suggesting that society had misled them about the importance of careers over family. He praised his wife Isabelle’s dedication to her roles as a wife and mother, claiming her life truly began with those responsibilities. Additionally, he urged the male graduates to embrace their masculinity and resist cultural trends he believes undermine it.
Butker’s speech sparked significant backlash, with many women responding with criticism and sarcasm. The Los Angeles Chargers also mocked Butker by depicting him in a kitchen in an animated video revealing their 2024 schedule. Furthermore, a group of nuns affiliated with Benedictine College condemned his comments.