TThe NFL has distanced itself from Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker after he gave a controversial commencement speech last weekend at Benedictine College in Kansas and received backlash for comments deemed sexist and offensive.
Butker, who was the commencement speaker at the private Catholic college, was applauded at the ceremony, but his speech later sparked outrage and controversy online for his conservative speech – particularly his remarks about women. At one point, he encouraged women to prioritize their “calling” as mothers, wives and homemakers.
After clips of Butker’s speech went viral, the NFL responded to the outcry.
“Harrison Butker delivered a speech in a personal capacity,” Jonathan Beane, NFL senior vice president and chief diversity and inclusion officer, said in a statement. statement to ML Football. “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.”
Butker suggested in her speech that working from home is more valuable to women than professional achievements.
“I want to speak directly to you briefly because I think it was you, the women, who heard the most diabolical lies told,” he said in his speech. “How many of you are sitting here about to cross this phase and thinking about all the promotions and titles you are going to get in your career? Some of you may go on to lead successful careers in the world, but I would venture to guess that most of you are more excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into this world.”
“Today I am on this stage and I can be the man I am because I have a wife who supports her vocation,” he added.
He went on to criticize President Joe Biden for his support for abortion rights. He also mentioned a “kind of pride of mortal sin that has a month dedicated to it,” a apparent reference to Pride month.
People soon took to the Internet to express their outrage at Butker’s speech.
“Harrison Butker is a disgusting human being”, a person said in X.
“No, Harrison Butker did not praise women or promote family values with his sexist and bigoted speech. He told women that serving a man as a servant is all they should aspire to do in life, while attacking LGBTQ+ people in the process,” another person said in X.
More than 150 thousand people signed a petition on Change.org demanding that the Kansas City Chiefs fire Butker for his comments.
“We demand accountability from our sporting figures, who must be role models who promote respect for all people, regardless of their race, gender identity or sexual orientation,” said Willard Harris, who started the petition, on the website.
This story originally appeared on Time.com read the full story
