Harrison Butker's controversial speech: How NFL fans, Swifties react to Chiefs kicker
The Cincinnati Bengals will face the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 2 of the upcoming NFL season, but that's not why Chiefs' kicker Harrison Butker has officially gone viral (for all the wrong reasons).
A video of the NFL player's commencement speech at Benedictine College last weekend has attracted heaps of backlash on social media.
Here's what Butker said and how football fans are reacting.
What did Harrison Butker say at Benedictine College?
In his 20 minutes on stage at the private Catholic liberal arts school in Atchison, Kansas, Butker expressed his views against Pride Month and transgender people, among other topics, according to USA Today.
"Not the deadly sins sort of Pride that has an entire month dedicated to it," the Georgia native said, "but the true God-centered pride that is cooperating with the holy ghost to glorify him."
Butker also took the opportunity to speak out about the coronavirus pandemic and its relation to "degenerate cultural values and media." The prospect of women choosing careers over homemaking was also under scrutiny by Butker.
"I can tell you that my beautiful wife, Isabelle, would be the first to say that her life truly started when she began living her vocation as a wife and a mother. I’m on this stage, and able to be the man I am, because I have a wife who leans into her vocation," Butker said.
In the speech, the Chiefs' player quoted a lyric from Taylor Swift's song "Bejeweled" while criticizing some priests for being too close to their parishioners, per The Sporting News.
"As my teammate's girlfriend says, 'familiarity breeds contempt,'" the 28-year-old said, referring to Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce's high-profile relationship with Swift.
Social media users have circulated the video of Butker's speech, which has now amassed over 180,000 views on YouTube.
Some online are disgusted by what Butker said and others are inspired by it. Here's a peek into what people are saying.
Social media users respond to controversial Harrison Butker speech
X users meme-ify Harrison Butker's views on women
Harrison Butker every time a woman learns how to read pic.twitter.com/ubCiD06TJb
— Cara R (@carawithac13) May 15, 2024
harrison butker every time a woman signs an employment contract pic.twitter.com/kfkpJg2EnV
— chip skylark (@scotty__13) May 15, 2024
Harrison Butker when a woman has goals and dreams that don’t involve raising children and tending to her husband pic.twitter.com/GhXh9DEYe7
— Megan McIntosh ♡ (@_megaanmac) May 14, 2024
Harrison Butker giving his speech pic.twitter.com/lpIpzuqAF5
— HeyYalMary ❤️🇺🇦🌻 (@hey_yall_mary) May 15, 2024
Harrison Butker @ women existing to not cater to him pic.twitter.com/lpHaeCdMEE
— Coryelle Thomas (@CoryelleThomas) May 15, 2024
Harrison Butker anytime a woman has a job interview pic.twitter.com/WEull8oMz3
— joshua: mavs in 6 (@ScumShuckle) May 15, 2024
Some media personalities support Harrison Butker's views
Harrison Butker just gave one hell of a speech
pic.twitter.com/c30SpQtrnt— Bussin' With The Boys (@BussinWTB) May 14, 2024
Harrison Butker brings wholesome: pic.twitter.com/RwLN22U0hc
— Dr Taylor Marshall™️ (@TaylorRMarshall) May 15, 2024
Suddenly, I am a Harrison Butker fan
pic.twitter.com/AVHAsT7EhQ— Football Fanatics (@FFB_Fanatics) May 14, 2024
Not a word Harrison Butker says here should be remotely controversial. He’s 100% correct.
Those trying to convince women that being assistant VP of lending & intentionally childless at age 40 is more fulfilling than making a family and home are evil. pic.twitter.com/0URPHTVSMx— T.J. Moe (@TJMoe28) May 15, 2024
Former Kansas City official rejects Harrison Butker's commencement 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. 🌈 pic.twitter.com/4vZ14SXgb6
— Justice Horn (@JusticeHorn_) May 14, 2024
Swifties join the conversation
Taylor Swift writing half an album after seeing Harrison Butker’s speech pic.twitter.com/f1Tmj0wkmm
— TLM Anon ☧ 🇻🇦❤️🔥 (@LPhitney) May 15, 2024
I dare Harrison Butker to tell Taylor Swift she has no value unless she is a wife, mother, and homemaker. pic.twitter.com/i32ez5fsSt
— mimi ✨🎧🦋🫶🏻 (@watchinwisteria) May 14, 2024
Petition to replace Harrison Butker with Taylor Swift as the kicker for the Chiefs https://t.co/62ihZnIzCV pic.twitter.com/9TnEYAmRW0
— MidnightMak (@5280Swiftie) May 14, 2024
HARRISON BUTKER USED A QUOTE FROM BEJEWELED IN THAT SPEECH??? A quote from the song that I interpret as taking your power and life back after being in an unhealthy relationship??? In a speech about how women should focus on being wives and mothers??? The jokes write themselves… pic.twitter.com/UIteMOOw4a
— allie 🪶🤍 (@theallietross) May 15, 2024
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Social media reacts to Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker's viral speech