Kansas City, Missouri, faced backlash after doxing the residence of Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker on social media, spurred by controversy over his faith-centric commencement speech at Benedictine College. The city’s official social media account issued a concise apology, acknowledging the error and promptly deleting the post. Mayor Quinton Lucas also addressed the incident separately, condemning its inappropriate nature and vowing to review account access to prevent future mishaps.
Butker, 28, encountered criticism for his address at Benedictine College, located 60 miles from Kansas City. The NFL distanced itself from Butker’s remarks, stressing its commitment to inclusivity. In a thinly veiled attack on Butker, Jonathan Beane, the league’s chief diversity and inclusion officer, clarified that Butker’s views were personal and did not represent the NFL as an organization.
During his speech, Butker made statements perceived as controversial, including a call for female graduates to embrace roles as homemakers. “For the ladies present today, congratulations on an amazing accomplishment… 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,” Butker said. “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?” He continued, “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.”
Quoting his wife, Butker emphasized the significance of embracing the role of a homemaker. “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,” Butker stated. “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.”
Moreover, Butker referenced Pride Month, describing it as a celebration of the “deadly sin… of pride.” He also criticized Joe Biden’s stance on abortion, referring to it as “delusional.” Despite online criticism, Butker reportedly received a standing ovation from graduates and attendees at the event. The Kansas City Chiefs have not publicly commented on Butker’s speech, leaving the controversy surrounding his remarks unresolved.