Butker praised his wife, Isabelle, saying that she “leans into her vocation” and that she “would be the first to say that her life truly started when she began living her vocation as a wife and as a mother.”
“It cannot be overstated that all of my success is made possible because the girl I met in class back in middle school would convert to the faith,” he said, “become my wife, and embrace one of the most important titles of all: homemaker.”
“Isabelle’s dream of having a career might not have come true,” said Butker, “but if you ask her today if she has any regrets on her decision—she would laugh out loud.”
Butker also received blowback for referencing Taylor Swift in his speech, calling her “my teammate’s girlfriend” without naming her. Critics took issue with him referring to Swift by her relationship status and ignoring the fact that she is a single woman who is enormously successful in her career.
Those who have publicly commented on Butker’s speech include Taylor Swift’s boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. Kelce said that while he did not agree with much of the speech, he was not interested in judging Butker and he respected Butker as a person of integrity.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes also praised Butker as a man of character, despite saying he did not agree with all of Butker’s views. Mahomes, along with Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid, emphasized the value of people being free to have their own opinions.
Tavia Hunt, wife of Chiefs CEO Clark Hunt, did not mention Butker by name but praised the vocation of motherhood on social media and said that it was important for people to be able to have their own views. Her daughter, Gracie, appeared on Fox & Friends, where she said, “I really respect Harrison and his Christian faith and what he’s accomplished on and off the field.”
A petition calling for Butker to be released from the Chiefs has gained over 236,000 signatures at the time of this writing. Butker addressed the controversy for the first time on May 24, saying he has received a “shocking level of hate” but that he has no regrets “at all.”
