Current:Home > MarketsChiefs kicker Harrison Butker's speech was ugly. He's only part of a bigger problem. -GrowthInsight
Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker's speech was ugly. He's only part of a bigger problem.
View
Date:2025-04-11 17:31:31
A question: Are the Kansas City Chiefs OK with one of their players, kicker Harrison Butker, saying women belong as homemakers?
The team has several women executive vice presidents who have careers outside of the kitchen. What do they think of this? The team has celebrated Women's History Month, not Woman You Better Get My Dinner on the Table Month.
"I think it is you, the women, who have had the most diabolic lies told to you," Butker said at a recent college commencement. "Some of you may go on to lead successful careers in the world, 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.
"I can tell you that my beautiful wife, Isabelle, would be the first to say that her life truly started when she began living her vocation as a wife and a mother," Butker added. "I’m on this stage, and able to be the man I am, because I have a wife who leans into her vocation."
Her vocation? Really? Did I slip and fall into a time machine and travel back to the 1950s?
NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.
“I’m beyond blessed with the many talents god has given me," he said, "but it cannot be overstated that all of my success is made possible because a 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."
The team thus far has been silent about Butker's comments which don't stop with his antiquated views of a woman's role in society. He also went on an anti-LGBTQ rant.
Speaking of Pride month, Butker said: “Not the deadly sins sort of Pride that has an entire month dedicated to it, but the true God-centered pride that is cooperating with the holy ghost to glorify him.”
The organization did not respond to an email request for comment.
But former Kansas City commissioner Justice Horn did respond to Butker. He wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter: "Harrison Butker doesn’t represent Kansas City nor has he ever. Kansas City has always been a place that welcomes, affirms, and embraces our LGBTQ+ community members."
Before all of you Constitutional scholars chime in from your grammy's basement, I'm aware Butker can say whatever he wants, but that doesn't mean the rest of us should stay silent.
On social media, one of the prevailing sentiments was that Butker was just an idiot kicker and didn't matter. That's false. Not the part about him being an idiot. That's true. The part about him not mattering.
He's a key part of a Super Bowl champion team. He plays in the most popular sport in the country. His words will carry and while they have the waft of Archie Bunker's couch, they shouldn't be ignored. We should take every opportunity to push back against this type of extremist, Neanderthalic view of the world.
(It's also interesting to see right-wing and white nationalist platforms that usually tell athletes of color to shut up and dribble championing Butker's remarks. Maybe interesting isn't the word for it.)
Read more KC Chiefs news:Harrison Butker strikes against Pride Month, lauds wife's role as 'homemaker'
Butker represents a segment of the population that wants to go backwards, particularly with women's rights. These people are getting bolder and more hateful.
The goal is to wrench power from a society that has become more pluralistic and diverse, and put it back into the hands of a small group of men. And I can tell you, in their universe, they aren't talking about men of color having all this power.
Butker gives the entire game away with this part of his speech.
"To the gentlemen here today, part of what plagues society is this lie that has been told to you that men are not necessary in the home or in our communities,' Butker said. "As men, we set the tone of the culture, and when that is absent, disorder, dysfunction and chaos set in. This absence of men in the home is what plays a large role in the violence we see all around the nation.
"Be unapologetic in your masculinity. Fight against the cultural emasculation of men. Do hard things. Never settle for what is easy."
There is no emasculation of men. It's not happening. It has never happened. It's a totally fabricated thing.
Again, none of this has to do with the loss of rights. No one is being emasculated. Men aren't losing power. Women don't need to stay in the kitchen. Unless they want to.
There are people like Butker who want to take America back in time. Not the majority. But enough.
And that's scary.
veryGood! (637)
Related
- Connie Chiume, South African 'Black Panther' actress, dies at 72
- Elton John Hospitalized After Falling At Home in the South of France
- Police body-camera video shows woman slash Vegas officer in head before she is shot and killed
- HBCU president lauds students, officer for stopping Jacksonville killer before racist store attack
- 3 years after the NFL added a 17th game, the push for an 18th gets stronger
- Some of the 2,000 items stolen from the British Museum were recovered, officials say
- Dylan Mulvaney calls out transphobia at Streamy Awards, pokes fun at Bud Light controversy
- A fire-rescue helicopter has crashed in Florida; officials say 2 are injured
- Drones warned New York City residents about storm flooding. The Spanish translation was no bueno
- Watch: Lifelong Orioles fan Joan Jett calls scoring play, photobombs the team
Ranking
- Person accused of accosting Rep. Nancy Mace at Capitol pleads not guilty to assault charge
- Spring, purified, mineral or alkaline water? Is there a best, healthiest water to drink?
- 'Death of the mall is widely exaggerated': Shopping malls see resurgence post-COVID, report shows
- How Singer Manuel Turizo Reacted to Getting a Text From Shakira About Collaborating
- Messi injury update: Ankle 'better every day' but Inter Miami star yet to play Leagues Cup
- Houston Astros' Jose Altuve completes cycle in 13-5 rout of Boston Red Sox
- AP Was There: The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963 draws hundreds of thousands
- Guatemala’s electoral tribunal confirms Arévalo’s victory shortly after his party is suspended
Recommendation
Plunge Into These Olympic Artistic Swimmers’ Hair and Makeup Secrets
Matthew Stafford feels like he 'can't connect' with young Rams teammates, wife Kelly says
Julianne Hough Reunites With Ex Brooks Laich at Brother Derek Hough's Wedding
Justin Bieber Shows Support for Baby Girl Hailey Bieber's Lip Launch With Sweet Message
3 years after the NFL added a 17th game, the push for an 18th gets stronger
Spring, purified, mineral or alkaline water? Is there a best, healthiest water to drink?
Dylan Mulvaney calls out transphobia at Streamy Awards, pokes fun at Bud Light controversy
Get $30 off These Franco Sarto Lug Sole Loafers Just in Time for Fall