Analyzing Harrison Butker's Misstep in his Polarizing Graduation Address

The NFL is distancing itself from controversial comments made by Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker during a recent commencement address. Butker's remarks included calling Pride Month a “deadly sin” and criticizing diversity and equity initiatives. However, it was his suggestion that women would find more fulfillment through marriage and motherhood rather than pursuing careers that sparked the most criticism, especially as he had just quoted a song by Taylor Swift.

The backlash against Butker has been growing since he made these comments during his address to graduates at Benedictine College, a small Catholic school in Atchison, Kansas.

The NFL released a statement on Wednesday addressing Butker's comments. According to Senior Vice President Jonathan Beane, the league's chief diversity and inclusion officer, Butker's views were expressed in his personal capacity and do not represent the NFL as an organization. Beane emphasized that the NFL remains dedicated to promoting inclusion, believing that it ultimately enhances the league.

GLAAD criticized Butker's speech for being disconnected from the views of many Americans on Pride, LGBTQ individuals, and women. The Chiefs, who are the defending Super Bowl champions and a prominent NFL team, have not yet commented on the situation.

What Butker said about women — and Taylor Swift

However, many women (and Taylor Swift fans) have expressed their strong opinions on the matter. This could mean that Butker will continue to receive a lot of criticism on his social media accounts for a while. It might also pose a potential image issue for the NFL and the Chiefs, as both have seen a rise in female fan base over the last year.

In front of a crowd of around 485 male and female graduates, Butker shared his belief that a woman's achievements in the home hold more significance than any academic or professional pursuits.

Addressing the women directly, he expressed his concern about the harmful falsehoods that have been spread about them.

How many of you are sitting here now, ready to cross this stage, and thinking about all the promotions and titles you may achieve in your career? While some of you may have successful careers ahead, I believe that most of you are looking forward to starting a family and having children.

Butker also expressed his admiration for his wife, Isabelle, noting that she believes her life truly began when she embraced her role as a wife and mother.

Judging from the hundreds upon hundreds of critical comments on Butker’s Instagram posts and about him on X and TikTok, his remarks did not sit well with many people.

Harrison Butker of the Kansas City Chiefs speaks to the media ahead of Super Bowl LVIII on February 5, 2024, in Las Vegas.

Harrison Butker of the Kansas City Chiefs speaks to the media ahead of Super Bowl LVIII on February 5, 2024, in Las Vegas.

Robin Alam/ISI Photos/Getty Images

Columnist Sam McDowell from the Kansas City Star pointed out that it was not just a slip of the tongue, but a carefully planned speech. He noted that instead of receiving a diploma on graduation day, women in the audience were told that their duty was to be a homemaker, not as a choice, but as a requirement to serve their husbands.

Many people were also bothered by Butker mentioning pop star Swift, who is in a relationship with Kansas City Chiefs player Travis Kelce and was often seen at Chiefs games, including the Super Bowl.

Butker made history by quoting a Taylor Swift song while criticizing Catholic priests for focusing too much on the feelings of their parishioners. He referenced Swift's song "Bejeweled," using the phrase "Familiarity breeds contempt" to make his point.

Conservative voices have praised Butker for his speech, calling it "100% correct" and noting his strong Catholic faith. However, his mention of Swift, who is unmarried and childless, has sparked further controversy. By Butker's own standards, Swift, a feminist icon, may not be living up to her full potential.

Feminists and Taylor Swift fans have responded in criticism.

Butker, who is 28 years old, has been a player for the Chiefs for seven seasons. In February, he made four field goals to help the Chiefs secure a 25-22 victory over the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl.

Before Butker's speech, his Instagram account was pretty harmless. It mainly featured photos of his gameday outfits with Bible quotes, pictures with conservative figures, and Christian quotes. Fans usually left friendly comments on his posts.

However, things have changed recently. Almost every new post on his account is filled with insults. Some people are even asking Butker about his views on women like Swift, who have achieved success without being married or having children.

I feel sorry for those women who were excited about their graduation but had to deal with you. Have a conversation with Travis about how you can be successful, manly, and still be extremely supportive of your girlfriend's career.

Taylor Swift embracing boyfriend Travis Kelce after a Chiefs playoff game in January.

Taylor Swift embracing boyfriend Travis Kelce after a Chiefs playoff game in January.

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

The deluge of criticism reached almost every corner of social media, and people took notice.

“As a woman, does watching Harrison Butker get cooked online count as being in the kitchen,” reads one popular post on X.

“I’ll let the Swifties handle Harrison Butker,” reads another.

Commenters and social influencers also noticed something that seems contradictory to Butker's beliefs. His mother, Elizabeth Keller Butker, works as a medical physicist at Emory University’s Winship Cancer Institute in Atlanta. She has achieved academic success, including a degree in chemistry from Smith College, a private women's liberal arts college in Massachusetts.

Vicki Chan, a doctor and TikTok creator with over 500,000 followers, asked Butker, "What does your mom think about your little speech, Harrison?"

CNN has reached out to Benedictine College, where Butker gave his address, and is awaiting a response.

The backlash comes as the NFL is trying to court female fans

The fallout from Butker's address is already messy, but there is another complicating detail to consider.

The NFL has been trying to attract more female fans for years. When Taylor Swift started attending Chiefs games last fall to support her boyfriend Kelce, female interest in the NFL soared. The Super Bowl LVIII, where the Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers and the superstar couple shared heartwarming embraces after the win, became the most-watched Super Bowl ever. Even NFL commissioner Roger Goodell recognized the impact of the "Taylor Swift effect" on the season.

Butker's remarks have upset many NFL fans, particularly those who are part of a growing and important demographic. Former "Monday Night Football" reporter Lisa Guerrero expressed her disappointment, urging the NFL to address the issue if they want to expand their female and other marginalized fan base.

Some commenters have requested the Chiefs to address Butker's comments for the sake of their female fans. However, the Chiefs have not yet publicly responded. Butker's speech also included other controversial remarks.

While Butker faced backlash for his comments about women and Taylor Swift, critics also had a lot to say about other aspects of his speech. One specific point that caused discontent was his criticism of President Joe Biden and other Catholic leaders. Butker accused them of promoting what he deemed as "dangerous gender ideologies," seemingly referring to transgender rights.

• Butker urged graduates to take pride in their Catholic identity, cautioning against the type of pride associated with deadly sins.

• He also addressed the ongoing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) debate, encouraging individuals to not be silenced by societal pressure to keep their beliefs private.

In response to his comments about diversity, Tennessean reporter Andrea Williams highlighted that Harrison Butker shares the field with Patrick Mahomes, who is known as one of the top players of his generation and is among the few Black quarterbacks to win a Super Bowl. She pointed out that Butker's success is closely linked to Mahomes' achievements.

Williams emphasized that Harrison Butker's three Super Bowl rings are credited to his partnership with Patrick Mahomes. Without Mahomes' contributions, Butker would not have the same level of recognition or platform to showcase his skills.

Some women also mentioned that Butker's knowledge of Catholicism and its expectations from followers is not the same for everyone.

Journalist Yvette Walker penned a critique based on faith for the Kansas City Star. She highlighted the significant roles played by many women in the Bible who went beyond traditional gender norms to benefit their communities.

I hope women in the audience who disagreed with Butker's statements remember they have the ability to think for themselves, read the Bible, and make their own choices to live a fulfilling life, whether or not they have a family.

CNN's Kevin Dotson also contributed to this story.

Editor's P/S:

Harrison Butker's