Chiefs’ Harrison Butker Criticized for Graduation Speech Attacking Working Women While Quoting Taylor Swift

Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker delivered a controversial commencement speech during Benedictine College’s graduation ceremony that has sparked backlash on social media.

The 28-year-old’s address at the May 11 ceremony decried various “diabolical lies told to women” about topics including abortion, in vitro fertilization (IVF) and surrogacy, as well as President Joe Biden.

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Chiefs’ Harrison Butker Criticized for Graduation Speech Attacking Working Women While Quoting Taylor Swift
Butker encouraged male graduates to “be unapologetic in your masculinity,” and to “fight against the cultural emasculation of men,” during his controversial speech

By Natasha Dye Published on May 14, 2024 05:19PM EDT
Harrison Butker #7 of the Kansas City Chiefs warms up before the game against the Philadelphia Eagles prior to Super Bowl LVII at State Farm Stadium on February 12, 2023
Harrison Butker. PHOTO: COOPER NEILL/GETTY
Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker delivered a controversial commencement speech during Benedictine College’s graduation ceremony that has sparked backlash on social media.

The 28-year-old’s address at the May 11 ceremony decried various “diabolical lies told to women” about topics including abortion, in vitro fertilization (IVF) and surrogacy, as well as President Joe Biden.

“It is safe to say that over the years, I have gained quite the reputation for speaking my mind,” Butker began in his address.

The NFL player started by mentioning how this year’s graduates started college at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, but said that, “while COVID might have played a large role throughout your formative years, it is not unique,” and took aim at “bad policies and poor leadership” that he says “have negatively impacted major life issues.”

“Things like abortion, IVF, surrogacy, euthanasia, as well as a growing support for degenerative cultural values in media all stem from the pervasiveness of disorder.”

During the 20-minute speech, Butker quoted a lyric written by Taylor Swift, referring to her through her boyfriend Travis Kelce by calling her his “teammate’s girlfriend.”