During the 2024 ESPY Awards, sister tennis star Serena Williams took a shot at Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker. The professional football player has sparked backlash from the left for espousing his Christian views during a graduation speech earlier this year, in which he clearly touched a nerve when speaking on gender roles.
Serena was onstage with her sister Venus alongside “Abbott Elementary” actress Quinta Brunson, delivering statements before the audience at the award ceremony. After Venus delivered remarks from the teleprompter, Serena directly called out Butker. “So, go ahead and enjoy women’s sports like you would any other sports, because they are sports,” Venus said. Serena jumped in, “Except you, Harrison Butker. We don’t need you.” Brunson added, “At all. Like, ever.”
Notably, Butker attended the ESPYs, attending the ceremony to support his teammates, such as quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who won this year’s award for best athlete in men’s sports. The famous Chiefs kicker was seen sporting a fancy tuxedo while showing off his Super Bowl ring. Butker sat just a few rows behind the Kansas City coach Andy Reid, who accepted Mahomes’ accolade on his behalf.
In May, The American Tribune reported on Butker’s commencement speech at Benedictine College, delivering a variety of talking points that have upset the left. For example, the kicker called out President Biden and pro-choice Catholics for their stances on abortion that contradict the teachings outlined in the Bible.
Butker said, “Our own nation is led by a man who 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 continued, “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.”
Furthermore, the Kansas City Chief also addressed modern gender roles, offering advice to women on how to orient their lives in a meaningful way. “For the ladies present today, congratulations on an amazing accomplishment. You should be proud of all that you have achieved to this point in your young lives,” he said. “I want to speak directly to you briefly, because I think 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 this stage, and are 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 the majority of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into this world.”
Butker further added, “I can tell you that my beautiful wife, Isabelle, would be the first to say her life truly started when she began living her vocation as a wife and as a mother. I’m on this stage today and able to be the man that I am because I have a wife who leans into her vocation. I’m beyond blessed with the many talents God has given me, 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.”
Watch the video of the trio taking aim at Harrison Butker below:
Note: The featured image is a screenshot from the embedded video.
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