There are calls for a famous American footballer to be fired after he gave a misogynistic speech that claimed a woman’s most important role was a “homemaker”.
Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker sparked a global outcry after speaking to the graduates at Benedictine College and suggesting that women – who make up half of the world’s population – should not be in the workplace, stating it was a “diabolic lie” that they could have careers.
The 28-year-old, who has made his conservative Catholic beliefs well known, also attacked the LGBTQI+ community by referring to Pride Month as a deadly sin and took aim at US President Joe Biden for supporting a woman’s right to abortion.
Backlash to the 20-minute speech has been huge, with the NFL quickly issuing a statement stating the three-time Super Bowl champion’s views are not those of the organisation’s.
A change.org petition has also been made demanding that the Chiefs release the kicker from his five-year contract, which currently has one year remaining, according to US Magazine.
It currently has almost 50,000 signatures.
While Butker, who has two kids — a son and a daughter — is yet to comment on the backlash to his speech, videos of his “harmful” words have caused widespread upset due to their “sexist” and “misogynist” nature.
“For the ladies present today… 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,” he 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? 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 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.”
He finished by stating he was “beyond blessed” by the “many talents God has given me” before stating: “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.”
Understandably, women around the world have been left angry, upset and exasperated by the athlete’s words, with many taking to social media to condemn the messaging.
“Did I just slip into a time warp back to 1950?” one commented after watching the video on TikTok.
“So her life didn’t start til she married you?” another questioned.
As one blasted: “He just told the women they wasted four years of their lives.”
Others said the speech left them furious.
“The absolute PURE RAGE this makes me feel…” one said.
“This is giving, ‘I am the centre of my universe and my spouse is there to reflect back to me my own importance’,” remarked another.
While one commented: “The thing is a lot of ppl think this way. That is the problem. He is just saying the quiet part out loud. Makes me so mad.”
Many simply called for his job to be taken, writing: “The Chiefs need to fire him.”
GLAAD, formerly known as the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, has also slammed Butker for describing Pride as being a “deadly sin” and describing the LGBTQ+ as spreading “dangerous gender ideologies”.
“Traditionally, commencement speeches are meant to celebrate and inspire graduates and their families,” the advocacy group said in a statement.
“Kansas City Chiefs player Harrison Butker’s commencement speech was not only a clear miss, it was inaccurate, ill-informed, and woefully out of step with Americans about Pride, LGBTQ people and women.
“Those with expansive platforms, especially athletes, should use their voices to uplift and expand understanding and acceptance in the world.”
GLAAD pointed out the term “gender ideologies” is fabricated by anti-LGBTQ+ activists to deny the existence of transgender and other gender-diverse people
“Butker’s remarks undermine experiences not of his own and reveal him to be one who goes against his own team’s commitment to the Kansas City community, and the NFL’s standards for respect, inclusion, and diversity across the League,” the organisation added.
The NFL have distanced themselves from the kicker’s remarks, with organisation’s Chief of Diversity Officer Jonathan Beane stating that Butker’s remarks do not reflect the league’s values.
“Harrison Butker gave a speech in his personal capacity,” Beane told Outsports.
“His views are not those of the NFL as an organisation.
“The NFL is steadfast in our commitment to inclusion, which only makes our league stronger.”