Harrison Butker speech riles up celebrities

As Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker continues to weather a storm of backlash over his recent college commencement speech, a host of celebrities have weighed in on his comments.

During his appearance at Benedictine College in Kansas on May 11, Butker, a devout Catholic, began his address by critiquing “dangerous gender ideologies,” in reference to LGBTQ+ Pride month. He also shared his opinion on working women and criticized President Joe Biden‘s stance on abortion as a Catholic.

As clips of Butker’s comments continue to circulation across social media, a number of celebrities and political commentators—including the hosts of The View—have weighed in with their opinions on his perspective. Newsweek has contacted a representative of Butker for comment via email.

In his commencement address, Butker said: “It is you, the women, who have had the most diabolical lies told to you. How many of you are sitting here now about to cross the stage and thinking about all the promotions and titles you’re 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 the majority of you are most excited about your marriage and children.”

Butker added that his wife’s life “truly started when she began living her vocation as wife and mother,” and he told the audience to “fight against the cultural emasculation of men.”

Criticizing Biden, Butker continued: “While COVID might have played a large role throughout your formative years, it is not unique. Bad policies and poor leadership have negatively impacted major life issues. Things like abortion, IVF, surrogacy, euthanasia, as well as a growing support for degenerate cultural values and media all stem from the pervasiveness of disorder.

“Our own nation is led by a man who publicly and proudly proclaims his Catholic faith, but at the same time is delusional enough to make the sign of the cross during a pro-abortion rally. He has been so vocal in his support for the murder of innocent babies that I’m sure to many people it appears that you can be both Catholic and pro-choice.”

Below is a list of public figures who have commented on Butker’s speech.

Maria Shriver

Maria Shriver, a journalist and author, took to X, formerly Twitter, to share a lengthy statement in which she expressed her opposition to Butker’s views.

In a post titled “My Curiosity Got Piqued This Week,” the former first lady of California wrote: “What point was Harrison Butker really trying to make to women in his graduation speech about their present day life choices?

“Did he really want them, aka us, to believe that our lives truly only begin when we lean into the vocation of wife and mother? I read that a couple times over, then I went to listen to it to make sure I heard it correctly. I DID.”

Shriver highlighted Butker’s statement that men “set the tone of the culture” and said he “also took a swipe at the LGBTQ community.”

“Look, everyone has their right to free speech in our country. That’s the benefit of living in a democracy,” said Shriver, who hails from the Kennedy political dynasty. “But those of us who are women and who have a voice have the right to disagree with Butker.”

She continued: “As a woman who has leaned into my vocation of living a meaningful life and working inside and outside the home to not only raise good humans but also raise up our country in various ways, I think it’s demeaning to women to imply that their choices outside of wife and motherhood pale in comparison to that of homemaker.

“It took a revolution to get women the right to vote, to get women birth control pills, to get women to be able to put their names on a checking account, to get them maternity leave, to get them anything close to pay equity, to get elected to office, to get them where they are today! Oh my god, don’t get me going, as there is so much more!

“I’m happy for Mr. Butker’s wife, Isabelle, that she’s happy in her chosen vocation. Good for her. But she should let her husband know that not all women can make that choice, even if they wanted to. Most families can’t get by without both parents working. It’s a luxury to get the choice she has gotten.

“The vast majority of women have to put food on the table, while also raising kids, caring for aging parents, running companies, volunteering in their local communities, running for office to give us a better world … the list goes on!

“And men, well, are they really the ones who set the tone for the culture? Can we all not set the tone for the future? Women, men, gay, straight—of course we can! I will not tell Mr. Butker to stick to kicking, but I would suggest next time he speaks to women first and listen to someone with a clearer take on where most women find themselves in 2024.”

In the post’s caption, Shriver wrote: “We all have the right to voice our opinions, but let us strive to do so with dignity and respect. #abovethenoise.”

Flavor Flav

Public Enemy rapper Flavor Flav demonstrated his opposition to Butker’s statements in a post on X.

“Sounds like some players ‘need to stay in their lanes’ and shouldn’t be giving commencement speeches,” the hip-hop star and TV personality wrote.

Sounds like some players “need to stay in their lanes” and shouldn’t be giving commencement speeches.

— FLAVOR FLAV (@FlavorFlav) May 14, 2024

“At least he’s giving commencement speeches,” one X user responded, prompting Flavor Flav, whose real name is William Jonathan Drayton Jr., to reply that he was “doing lectures at Harvard.” The rapper also shared a link to an article from the Harvard Gazette about his visit to the Ivy League university in 2023.

Whoopi Goldberg

During the May 16 episode of ABC‘s The View, moderator Whoopi Goldberg defended Butker’s right to express his views, whether she agreed with them or not.

Goldberg, addressing her co-hosts and the audience, emphasized the importance of respecting differing opinions. “Listen, I like when people say what they need to say. He’s at a Catholic college, he’s a staunch Catholic, these are his beliefs, and he’s welcome to them,” she said.

The Oscar winner added that while people do not have to believe or accept Butker’s views, they should respect his right to express them. “We want to give respect to people whose ideas are different from ours,” Goldberg said.

Drawing a parallel to Colin Kaepernick kneeling in protest during the U.S. national anthem in 2016, Goldberg discussed the need for mutual respect.

“I’m OK with him saying whatever he says. And the women who were sitting there, if they take his advice, good for them, they’ll be happy. If they don’t, good for them, they’ll be happy in a different way. That’s my attitude,” she continued.

Goldberg also argued that Butker should not lose his job over his beliefs. “I have the right to say what I say. He has the right to say what he says,” she said, adding, “When you say to somebody, ‘I don’t like what you said, and so I’m gonna get your job taken away because you disagree with me,’ for me, that is an issue.”

She also drew parallels between Butker’s situation and the scrutiny she and her co-hosts face over their opinions. “It happens to us all the time! That is why I am standing up for him saying––I don’t understand what he’s talking about because I’m not that Catholic,” she said. “But I have to say, just like I have my opinions, we have our opinions.”

The View Panelists

While Goldberg defended Butker’s right to voice his opinions, her co-hosts on The View chimed in to offer their varied perspectives.

Sunny Hostin highlighted the issues she had with Butker’s comments about the LGBTQ community, saying: “I thought what was most problematic, certainly, was what he said about the LGBTQ community, and he said it was sinful behavior.”

Alyssa Farah Griffin then criticized the NFL star’s praise of the homemaker role, saying: “I have a huge issue with this ‘tradwife homemaker’ thing.” She added that his comments ignored “half of the Bible,” which encouraged women to be leaders in the community.

Joy Behar, however, suggested that Butker had “mother issues” because of his mother’s success as a physicist. She recommended that Butker seek therapy.

Justice Horn

Justice Horn, a former Kansas City commissioner, posted a photo on X of the city’s streets adorned with rainbow colors.

“Harrison Butker doesn’t represent Kansas City nor has he ever,” Horn wrote. “Kansas City has always been a place that welcomes, affirms, and embraces our LGBTQ+ community members.”

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. 🌈 pic.twitter.com/4vZ14SXgb6

— Justice Horn (@JusticeHorn_) May 14, 2024

In another post, Horn also took a swipe at Butker’s position in his NFL team, as he addressed the athlete’s comments about masculinity.

“I can speak on this because I have two 6A MSHAA Football Championship rings here in Missouri, but being the kicker for a football team isn’t exactly the ‘toughest’ position out there,” Horn said. “He’s going on about masculinity while being a player that can’t be touched—it’s funny.”

I can speak on this because I have two 6A MSHAA Football Championship rings here in Missouri, but being the kicker for a football team isn’t exactly the “toughest” position out there.

He’s going on about masculinity while being a player that can’t be touched—it’s funny. https://t.co/jdeHW1xW76

— Justice Horn (@JusticeHorn_) May 15, 2024

Emily Calandrelli

Emily Calandrelli, an MIT engineer and the host of Netflix‘s Emily’s Wonder Lab, also voiced her objections to Butker’s comments.

While sharing footage of herself that appeared to be from when she received an honorary doctorate from the engineering department of McMaster University in November, Calandrelli wrote in overlay text: “Maybe let women choose your commencement speaker next time. There are better options.”

“Uh oh Harrison Butker, looks like all those ‘diabolical lies’ brought me to this stage,” she wrote in the video’s caption.

In another X post, Calandrelli addressed those who “cannot FATHOM a woman having a successful career AND a family.” She wrote, “Darling, we can do both—we just choose partners who see as equals.”

Alex Jones

Right-wing commentator and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones weighed in on the controversy by sharing a quote that has often been misattributed to English novelist George Orwell.

Jones, the founder of Infowars, wrote that “speaking the truth in times of universal deceit is a revolutionary act,” before adding Orwell’s name to the post.

Tomi Lahren

Conservative commentator Tomi Lahren spoke out in Butker’s defense, accusing the athlete’s critics of attempting to “cancel” him.

“All the cancel culture woke vultures coming for #harrisonbutker can pound sand,” she wrote in an X post. “Someone has a different take on life than you do, go cry a river.”

“Yall yammer about ‘inclusion’ but try to cancel anyone and everyone who doesn’t go along with your pronoun and pride mafia BS,” the TV personality continued, before advising Butker’s critics to “kick rocks with open-toed sandals.”