Nearly a week ago now, a Kansas City Chiefs player started trending on social media… but it wasn't your usual suspects. Kicker Harrison Butker's commencement speech was highly criticized by a lot of fans due to the sexist stereotypes it seemingly perpetuated. There were a lot of calls for Butker to be kicked off the team, with a petition going around.
Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid already made their comments on the Harrison Butker speech, with them implying they don't necessarily agree with the kicker's viewpoints. On his podcast, Travis Kelce broke his silence on the matter. The Chiefs star said that while he has respect for Butker as a family man, he does not agree with most of the kicker's speech. (quotes from The Athletic)
“He’s treated friends and family that I’ve introduced to him with nothing but respect and kindness. And that’s how he treats everyone. When it comes down to his views and what he said (in his) commencement speech, those are his. I can’t say I agree with the majority of it or just about any of it outside of just him loving his family and his kids. And I don’t think that I should judge him by his views, especially his religious views, of how to go about life, that’s just not who I am.”
Kelce also pointed out that both his parents were “homemakers and providers”, with the Chiefs star profusely thanking them for their role in his life.
“They were unbelievable at being present every single day of my life,” Kelce said. “That was a beautiful upbringing for me. … I’m not the same person without both of them being who they were in my life.”
Chiefs' reaction to provocative Butker speech
Mahomes and Reid first made their comments in a recent Chiefs media day. For Mahomes, his sentiments are similar to that of Kelce: he does not agree with his viewpoint, but he will judge him based on the character he shows.
“I’ve known (Butker) for seven years. I judge him by the character he shows every day and that’s a good person. … We’re not always going to agree. He said certain things I don’t agree with.”
As for Reid, the Chiefs head coach said that he felt that there was no need to discuss Butker's opinions further.
““I didn’t think I need to (address it). We’re a microcosm of life,” Reid said when asked about Butker’s comments. “We all respect each other’s opinions. We all have a voice.””
Butker's commencement speech featured several controversial takes. Among those are his derision of “Pride Month” as one of the deadly sins, his statement that a woman's most important title is being a “homemaker”, and criticism of abortion and the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
That's quite a lot to unpack. Butker's “homemakers” comments has garnered a lot of negative reactions, as it perpetuated antiquated gender norms that put women in boxes that have long been broken. How the Chiefs star phrased his statement certainly did not help matters at all.
“It is you, the women, who have had the most diabolic lies told to you. 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.”
Regardless, Butker has free reign to say what he thinks. Free speech is free speech, after all. Still, that will not excuse the Chiefs star from the criticism he has gotten and will continue to get due to this speech.
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