Over 100,000 people have signed a petition urging the Kansas City Chiefs to release kicker Harrison Butker following a controversial commencement speech Butker delivered at Benedictine College, a Catholic liberal arts college in Atchison, Kansas.
During the speech, Butker railed against President Joe Biden, remarking that Biden, a Catholic himself, was “delusional enough to make the sign of the cross during a pro-abortion rally.”
“Bad policies and poor leadership have negatively impacted major life issues—things like abortion, IVF [in vitro fertilization], surrogacy, euthanasia, as well as a growing support for degenerate cultural values in media all stem from the pervasiveness of disorder,” Butker said.
Mixing in lyrics from songs written by Taylor Swift—who is currently dating Butker’s teammate, Travis Kelce—Butker also suggested to the women graduating with degrees that they had been told “diabolical lies” about the vocational opportunities afforded to them.
“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,” Butker 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.”
Butker went on to express appreciation for his wife, Isabelle, saying, “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.”
Following the speech, clips of which went viral on social media, many criticized Butker’s remarks, characterizing them as misogynistic. Some were also quick to point out that while Butker apparently encouraged the women graduating from Benedictine to choose homemaking over career advancement, his own mother is a clinical medical physicist in the Winship Department of Radiation Oncology at Emory University.
Now, a Change.org petition calling for Butker’s removal from the Chiefs organization has gained more than 100,000 signatures.
The signers argue that Butker’s “comments were sexist, homophobic, anti-trans, anti-abortion and racist. These dehumanizing remarks against LGBTQ+ individuals, attacks on abortion rights and racial discrimination perpetuate division and undermine human rights.”
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“We demand accountability from our sports figures who should be role models promoting respect for all people regardless of their race, gender identity or sexual orientation,” the petition continues. “We call upon the Kansas City Chiefs management to dismiss Harrison Butker immediately for his inappropriate conduct.”
