NFL player Harrison Butker expressed his views on family and gender at a Catholic college graduation; now the left wants to cancel him

NFL player Harrison Butker unapologetically shared his Christian views on family during a commencement speech Saturday at a private, Catholic college. But as his message spread online, it drew ire from the left.

Butker is the starting placekicker for the Kansas City Chiefs, and a three time Super Bowl winner.

In part of his speech to the graduates of Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, he expressed his view of motherhood, arguing that being a wife, mother and homemaker are among the most meaningful and important roles a woman can fulfill, even more than a successful career, which he implied many listening would also have. Then, he praised his wife for taking on these roles, allowing him to be the best man and father he can be, as he held back tears of admiration. 

“For the ladies present today, congratulations on an amazing accomplishment,” Butker said to the graduates of Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas. “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. 

“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?” he asked. “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. 

“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 as a mother. I’m on this stage today and able to be the man I am, because I have a wife who leans into her vocation. 

“I’m beyond blessed with the many talents God has given me, but it cannot be overstated, that all of my success is made possible because the girl I met in band class back in middle school would convert to the faith, become my wife and embrace one of the most important titles of all homemaker.” 

He also spoke against radical transgender and LGBT ideologies, criticizing political and religious leaders for “pushing dangerous gender ideologies onto the youth of America.” He encouraged the graduates to take pride in their faith, contrasting that with “Pride Month,” which he characterized as “the deadly sin sort of pride that has an entire month dedicated to it.” 

In one particularly prescient moment, Butker seemingly predicted the response to his speech saying, “the world around us says that we should keep our beliefs to ourselves whenever they go against the tyranny of diversity, equity and inclusion.” 

As predicted, the cancel culture mob took the opportunity to pounce. 

Michael Freeman of USA Today called the speech “ugly,” saying Butker, and presumably his beliefs, were “part of a bigger problem.” He went on to characterize the idea that some women might regard motherhood as somehow more important than a successful career as “extremist and Neandertholic.” 

Former Kansas City Commissioner Justice Horn quickly disavowed Butker, and his beliefs, on behalf of the entire city in a post on X which has garnered 1.4 million views. 

“Harrison Butker doesn’t represent Kansas City nor has he ever,” he commented while sharing a prominent LGBTQ display. “Kansas City has always been a place that welcomes, affirms, and embraces our LGBTQ+ community members.” 

Wednesday, Brooke Schwartz, the wife of a former teammate chimed in, calling Butker “anti-LGBTQ” and “antisemitic,” while also blasting his views on motherhood. 

“I’ve stayed quiet about a lottttt of things but this is absolutely so gross and backwards to me,” she wrote on her Instagram Story.  

Also on Wednesday, the official X account for the city of Kansas City posted what some call an attempt to dox Butker over his views.  

“Just a reminder that Harrison Butker lives in the city of…,” read the since-deleted post, which also named the Kansas City suburb the kicker lives in. 

While the post was reportedly taken down shortly after another user exposed it, it had already received over 30,000 views. 

On Thursday, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas took to X to apologize, not for the attempt to dox Butker, but apparently because it was done from the city’s official X account. Lucas also promised accountability in an interview with local talk radio host Pete Mundo. 

“A message appeared earlier this evening from a city public account,” Lucas wrote on X. “The message was clearly inappropriate for a public account. The city has correctly apologized for the error, will review account access, and ensure nothing like it is shared in the future from public channels.”   

Also on Thursday, the NFL even chimed in, distancing itself from the views Butker expressed, before pledging its continued support for diversity. 

“Harrison Butker gave a speech in his personal capacity,” NFL Senior VP and Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Jonathan Beane said in a statement. “His views are not those of the NFL as an organization. The NFL is steadfast in our commitment to inclusion, which only makes our league stronger.” 

But Thursday, Butker jerseys were outselling all others, according to a report from the NFL, indicating widespread support around the country. 

Some prominent figures have spoken out in support of Butker views, as well as his right to share them. 

On Thursday’s episode of The View, an unlikely supporter emerged. 

“Listen, I like when people say what they need to say,” said co-host Whoopi Goldberg. “He’s at a Catholic college, he’s a staunch Catholic. These are his beliefs and he’s welcome to them. I don’t have to believe them. I don’t have to accept them. The ladies who were sitting in that audience do not have to accept them. 

“And the women who are sitting there, if they take his advice, good for them, they’ll be happy. If they don’t, good for them, they’ll be happy in a different way,” she continued. 

“I have the right to say what I say, he has the right to say what he says. When you say to somebody, ‘I don’t like what you said and I’m going to get your job taken away because you disagree with me,’ for me, that is an issue. Because it does happen to us. It happens to us all the time. That is why I am standing up for him.” 

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey also spoke out in support of Butker Thursday, vowing to take action to hold those responsible for the apparent dox. 

“BREAKING: My office is demanding accountability after @KansasCity doxxed @buttkicker7 last night for daring to express his religious beliefs,” Bailey posted on X. “I will enforce the Missouri Human Rights Act to ensure Missourians are not targeted for their free exercise of religion. Stay tuned.” 

Shortly after, Bailey’s office issued a press release stating it had sent a letter to Lucas’s office demanding the mayor “turn over all documents, records, and communications relating to his office’s X (formerly Twitter) post retaliating against Kansas City Chief’s kicker Harrison Butker for comments he made in a commencement speech at Benedictine College in which he openly discussed his Catholic faith.” 

“Missourians of faith deserve to know why Kansas City officials decided to attack Mr. Butker for his deeply held religious beliefs,” Bailey said in his release. “My office will not tolerate religious discrimination from City officials. I will enforce the Missouri Human Rights Act to ensure Missourians are not targeted for their free exercise of religion. The mayor needs to immediately turn over his office’s communications relating to this post.”