Harrison Butker's Heartfelt Wishes for Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce Take a New Turn Post Graduation

Harrison Butker s Taylor Travis Comments Hit Different After Grad Speech

Harrison Butker. Cooper Neill/Getty Images

Harrison Butker's remarks on teammate Travis Kelce's relationship with Taylor Swift take on a different significance following his divisive graduation speech.

In March, 28-year-old Butker shared his experience of meeting 34-year-old Swift for the first time at a team event earlier in the year. Their relationship blossomed in the summer of 2023, with Swift making it official by attending her first Kansas City Chiefs game in September.

Butker had nothing but positive things to say about Swift during their conversation. He expressed his hope that the couple will settle down together in the future, stating, "I hope they get married and start a family," in an interview with EWTN News In Depth.

Two months later, Butker’s positive message took a negative turn when he delivered a commencement speech at Benedictine College. The speech focused on traditional gender roles, with Butker specifically addressing the women in the audience who were graduating that day.

During the ceremony on Saturday, May 11, Butker expressed his thoughts directly to the women in the crowd. He mentioned that women have often been misled by societal expectations. He asked the graduating women how many of them were looking forward to achieving success in their careers, and how many were more excited about starting a family and having children.

Harrison Butker s Taylor Travis Comments Hit Different After Grad Speech

Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift. Michael Owens/Getty Images

Butker mistakenly referenced Taylor Swift's song "Bejeweled" when talking about relationships. In the song, Swift expresses feeling undervalued in a relationship.

He also quoted his teammate's girlfriend saying, "familiarity breeds contempt."

The athlete then shifted the conversation to his wife, Isabelle, whom he married in 2018. Butker expressed his admiration for how she embraced her faith and embraced the role of a homemaker.

He shared, "I wanted to tell you this because I have personally witnessed how much happier someone can be when they ignore the noise from others and align themselves with God's plan for their life." Butker continued, "Isabelle may not have realized her dream of pursuing a career, but if you were to ask her today if she regrets her decision, she would confidently reply, 'Absolutely not!'"

Neither Swift nor Kelce have addressed Butker’s controversial speech. After receiving backlash, Butker deleted all photos of Isabelle from his Instagram account.

Editor's P/S:

Harrison Butker's divisive graduation speech has sparked controversy due to his traditional views on gender roles. While Butker previously expressed support for his teammate Travis Kelce's relationship with Taylor Swift, his speech suggests a different perspective on relationships and family. By referencing Swift's song about feeling undervalued in a relationship, Butker appears to endorse traditional gender roles that prioritize women's domestic responsibilities over their careers.

The fact that Butker deleted all photos of his wife from his Instagram account after facing backlash further highlights the polarizing nature of his speech. It raises questions about whether Butker's previous positive remarks about Swift were genuine or merely a reflection of societal expectations. The controversy surrounding Butker's speech underscores the ongoing debate about gender roles and the challenges women face in balancing career aspirations with traditional family expectations.