NFL player Harrison Butker faces ongoing backlash after speaking out about parenting choices and gender roles in controversial commencement speech, insisting there is “nothing to be ashamed of” about parenting. He has a resolute attitude.
The Kansas City Chiefs kicker has faced criticism for his family life, the LGBTQ community and his political beliefs, but he shows no signs of slowing down.
Months later, Harrison Butker once again addressed the backlash over his controversial commencement speech, saying he was “saddened” by the reaction to his May 2024 comments about women being housewives.
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Harrison Butker talks about gender roles in commencement speech
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Earlier this year, Butker’s commencement speech at Benedictine College in Kansas sparked a national debate, with people calling him a misogynist and prompting massive backlash.
“How many of you who are sitting here right now, about to go through this stage, are thinking about all the promotions and titles you will get in your career? There may be someone to guide you,” he said. “But if I had to guess, I’d say the majority of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you’re bringing into the world.”
He later said of his wife, “I would be the first to say that her life really began when she began fulfilling her duties as a wife and mother.”
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Harrison Butker says he’s ‘saddened’ by how people interpreted his comments
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As the backlash continued, Butker clarified his comments and said he was “saddened” by the way they were received.
“It’s definitely sad that (some people) took it in a bad way,” the Kansas City Chiefs kicker said on Fox News’ “The Ingraham Angle.” “I was talking to a certain crowd and I think they understood what I was trying to say.”
“But as a housewife, I was trying to tell a life story for the many women who have dedicated their lives to raising children,” he continued, “and while it’s a beautiful role, it’s an undervalued role.” It’s not the right role for me.”
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Harrison Butker says there’s “no shame” in wanting to raise children
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Butker and his wife Isabel are parents to three children, including 5-year-old son James, but the names and ages of their other two children remain private.
“All my success was possible because a girl I met in band class in middle school converted to the (Catholic) faith, became my wife, and accepted one of the most important titles of homemaker and housewife. It is no exaggeration to say that I have become one of the most talked-about people in the world,” he said in a commencement speech in May that became one of his most talked-about remarks.
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“If you’re a woman and you want to spend time with your family and raise your children, there’s nothing to be ashamed of. So there’s nothing to deny those who want to get a great education and have a career. It’s not,” he finally told host Laura Ingraham. week. “But what’s talked about more than that is how beautiful it is for women to step aside and prioritize their families, spend time with their children, and raise their families. That’s what I’m talking about. That’s what I was trying to do.”
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This isn’t the first time Harrison Butker has stood up to give a commencement speech.
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“I prayed about it and thought about it, and I was very intentional in saying what I said, and I stand by what I said,” he said. “After seven years in the league, and having this platform, I finally decided, ‘You know, I have something that I truly believe will make this world a better place, and I’m going to preach it. I think that.
“And if people don’t agree, they won’t agree. But I’m going to keep saying what I believe to be true and loving everyone along the way,” he added.
Harrison Butker supports Donald Trump
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Butker said Americans should support the “most pro-life” leader, and in his view, Donald Trump fits that description. “I support what will be the most pro-life president,” he said. “The (pro-life) theme is the most important to me. I want us to fight for the most vulnerable.”
“We have to vote for the person who will be the most pro-life, and we have to be people of prayer who put God first. I think that’s what’s best for this country,” he added.
