An NFL star has sparked controversy by telling female graduates that one of the most important roles in their lives will be “homemakers.”
Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker also criticized abortion and LGBT Pride marches in a speech at Benedictine University, Kansas.
His team has not yet responded to the three-time Super Bowl champion’s comments. The NFL said this was a “personal” matter.
Nearly 160,000 people have signed a petition demanding the 28-year-old be fired.
In a 20-minute speech last Saturday, he told female graduates at the private Catholic university that they had heard “the most diabolical lies.”
“Some of you may go on to have successful careers in the world,” he said.
“But I’d venture to guess that most of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into this world.”
Butker added that his wife’s life “really took off” when “she began to live out her responsibilities as a wife and mother”.
He added that Isabelle Butker held “one of the most important titles: housewife”. Talking about his marriage, he seemed emotional.
His speech also attacked IVF, surrogacy, “regressive cultural values,” “dangerous gender ideology” and “the tyranny of diversity, equity and inclusion.”
“Our country is led by a man who openly and proudly proclaims his Catholic faith, yet… speaks out in favor of the murder of innocent babies,” he said, referring to President Donald Trump. President Joe Biden.
The Football Association distanced itself from these comments, saying they were made “in his personal capacity… his views are not those of the NFL”.
LGBT advocacy group GLAAD called Butker’s speech “woefully out of step with Americans”.
Many social networks also criticized the NFL star.
Stefanie Hills, former NFL cheerleader for the Chiefs, said on TikTok: “Best part of your speech when you said ‘stay in your lane’ more than ten times. Dude, take your advice.” only me.”
But his comments were cheered by many conservatives. And even staunchly liberal comedian Whoopi Goldberg defended Butker’s right to express his views.
“These are his beliefs and he welcomes them,” she told co-panelists on ABC’s The View.
“I don’t have to believe them. Right? I don’t have to accept them.”
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes told The Pat McAfee Show, a radio program, that he doesn’t talk to his teammates often.
“Honestly, I haven’t talked to Harrison all year,” Mahomes said. I just let him do his thing.”
Meanwhile, Missouri’s top prosecutor vowed to investigate Butker’s Wednesday doxxing allegations through a social media account run by Kansas City authorities.
The message, which revealed the neighborhood where the Butker family lived, was posted from a public account on X, formerly Twitter, controlled by the city.
Attorney General Andrew Bailey said the investigation will examine whether the post violated the Missouri Human Rights Act and targeted Butker for “daring to express his religious beliefs.”
It was deleted after about two hours. Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas apologized for the message, calling it “clearly inappropriate.”
Butker has played for the Chiefs since 2017. He broke the Chiefs’ franchise record in 2022 with a 62-yard field goal and helped the team win its first Super Bowl in 50 years in 2020 .
