LOS ANGELES – ESPYS host Serena Williams delivered a night of playful jabs at various celebrities at the Dolby Theatre on Thursday night, but her most notable remark was aimed at Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker.
The moment unfolded as Serena, her older sister Venus, and actress Quinta Brunson were on stage discussing women’s sports.
“So, go ahead and enjoy women’s sports like you would any other sports, because they are sports,” Venus stated.
Serena then quickly added, “Except you, Harrison Butker. We don’t need you.”
Butker had been seen earlier on the red carpet at the ESPY Awards.
Serena’s remark was in response to Butker’s controversial comments about women made during a commencement speech at Benedictine College earlier this year.
“For the ladies present today, congratulations on an amazing accomplishment. You should be proud of all that you have achieved to this point in your young lives. I want to speak directly to you briefly because I think it is you, the women, who have had the most diabolical lies told to you,” Butker said during the speech. “How many of you are sitting here now about to cross this stage and are thinking about all the promotions and titles you are going to get in your career? 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.”
His comments sparked widespread backlash after excerpts of his speech went viral.