A few days after his “sexist” speech, Harrison Butker is now being torn apart online after the internet just found out what his mom’s career is.
On Saturday (May 11), the 28-year-old kicker delivered a 20-minute speech at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas where he told the audience in attendance that “poor leadership has negatively impacted major life issues.”
Harrison Butker Controversial Graduation Speech
Credit: Benedictine College / YouTube
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Butker then went on to address the female graduates directly, telling them that they had been fed “the most diabolical lies.”
“Some of you may go on to lead successful careers in the world,” he said. “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.”
The Kansas City Chiefs kicker, who is a devout Catholic, went on to mention his wife, Isabelle, and how her life had “truly started” when “she began living her vocation as a wife and as a mother.”
He added that his wife had embraced “one of the most important titles of all: homemaker.”
The 28-year-old then went on to address “degenerate cultural values”, “dangerous gender ideologies” and “the tyranny of diversity, equity, and inclusion” stating: “Our nation is led by a man [Joe Biden] who publicly and proudly proclaims his Catholic faith, but… has been so vocal in his support for the murder of innocent babies.”
Of course, his remarks evoked a lot of outrage from NFL fans and beyond, who slated the football player for his speech.
“Harrison Butker is a disgusting human being,” wrote one user on X. “Telling women who are graduating college that their degrees were a waste of time and have been told ‘diabolical’ lies when it comes to promotions and having successful careers because women should be ‘homemakers.'”
“NFL kicker Harrison Butker doing a graduation speech at a girls college and tells them that the 4 years they just spent learning were pointless because they should be most excited about getting in the kitchen. What a misogynistic, homophobic tw*t,” added another.
And another also commented “Harrison Butker, a dude I had never heard of until today, did a bang-up job of becoming one of the most hated men in North America in the space of one 20-minute speech full of bigotry and misogyny. F**k this guy. This is insane.”
And now, many have actually found out what Butker’s mom, who is clearly a career woman, does for a living.
As per the Independent, Elizabeth Keller Butker, the football player’s mother, has worked in Emory University’s Department of Radiation Oncology since 1988, her LinkedIn page shows.
She was inspired to follow in her father’s footsteps.
James W Keller played a crucial role in the Winship Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology for 13 years and the Winship Department of Radiation Oncology for 15 years.
“It’s probably worth mentioning that harrison butker’s mom is an accomplished physicist and not a woman who just ‘stayed at home’,” wrote this user on X.
Another also re-posted a screenshot taken from his mom’s LinkedIn page, writing: “Harrison Butker’s mom, Elizabeth Keller Butker, is a published Physicist at Emory University who uses her maiden and married name. This is mommy-issues all the way down, please disregard.”
In the wake of the backlash surrounding the incident, Jonathan Beane, NFL senior vice president and chief diversity and inclusion officer released a statement on behalf of the organization.
“Harrison Butker gave a speech in his personal capacity,” Beane wrote as per TIME. “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.”
