Harrison Butker, the Kansas City Chiefs kicker, has received severe criticism for delivering a graduation speech to the class of 2024 on the campus of Benedictine College on May 11.
While the NFL player gave a 20-minute speech to the Catholic college’s small graduating class, video of the event went viral, and netizens had much to say.
Butker’s address covered a variety of topics, including Pride Month, women’s duties at home, reproductive difficulties, 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 say that his wife’s life “really started when she began living her vocation as a wife and mother.”
“I’ve witnessed firsthand how much happier someone can be when they ignore the surrounding distractions and get closer and closer to God’s plan for their life. Isabelle’s desire of having a career may not have come true, but if you ask her now if she has any regrets about her decision, she will laugh out loud and say no.”
Butker also urged the men of the 2024 class 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.
