People Are Outraged Over Harrison Butker's Graduation Speech. Here's Why (2024)

It’s been exactly one week since Harrison Butker delivered his highly controversial commencement speech at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas.

Now, the Kansas City Chiefs’ kicker is in hot water with those who strongly disagree with, and were deeply offended by, the thoughts and opinions he shared during his twenty-minute address.

Who is Harrison Butker?

First, it’s importance to consider the source of this controversial speech. Who is Harrison Butker, anyway?

Harrison Butker is currently the placekicker for the Kansas City Chiefs and a three-time Super Bowl winner.

An outspoken Catholic whose Instagram page is full of references to Jesus, Bible verses, and quotes by well-known Saints, Butker is also asuccessful entrepreneur and noted philanthropist.

Butker is not a professional speaker, however. His commencement address at Benedictine College was only his second graduation speech. He gave his first graduation speech last year at his alma mater, Georgia Tech.

Where Was Butker’s Speech Given?

It’s also crucial to consider where the controversial speech was given, who it was given to, and the context it was given in.

Harrison Butker gave his controversial speech at the 2024 Benedictine College graduation ceremony to a group of approximately 485 graduating seniors plus school staff, friends, and family.

Founded in 1971 as a merger of St. Benedict’s College and Mount St. Scholastica College, Benedictine College is now a well-established Catholic liberal arts college in Atchison, Kansas.

It’s worth noting that the crowd in attendance for Butker’s speech gave him a standing ovation for his remarks, showing that the speech was a hit with its original intended audience.

Problem #1: The Speech Felt Out of Place for a Graduation Ceremony

Traditionally, a graduation ceremony is meant to celebrate the hard work and accomplishments of the graduates as well as thank friends and family for their support.

However, Butker’s speech felt more like a political and religious rant he felt compelled to get off his chest.

Throughout his speech, he addressed topics including: Covid, politicians, abortion, IVF, surrogacy, euthanasia, LGBTQ+ rights, the media, bishops and priests, working parents, how mass is celebrated, and more, often using very blunt and offensive language.

While Butker certainly has the right to free speech, and some of his points were in line with traditional Church teaching, little to none of his remarks were meant to celebrate or congratulate the graduates.

Problem #2: It Was Highly Political

Within the first few sentences of his speech, Butker immediately started in with his rants about how politicians and spiritual leaders are simply not leading their people well.

He said,

“As a group, you witnessed firsthand how bad leaders who don’t stay in their lane can have a negative impact on society… Bad policies and poor leadership have negatively impacted major life issues. “

Butker even openly and bluntly criticized Catholic President Joe Biden for his failure to uphold traditional Catholic values, calling him “delusional.”

“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.”

Problem #3: It Downplayed Women’s Accomplishments

Butker did include a few brief, generic lines congratulating the female graduates for their accomplishments.

“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. “

However, these nice words were immediately followed by a thinly veiled reminder that these accomplishments paled in comparison to their most important roles: being a wife and mother.

His speech continues,

“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?”

While Butker’s emotional tribute to his wife for her support is touching, many working moms were deeply offended by his dismissal of women’s career aspirations (particularly considering the fact that this speech was given at a graduation ceremony).

Problem #4: It Reeked of Privilege

Whether or not you agree with Butker’s strongly-held opinions, for many Americans, following his advice is downright impossible.

Butker shared,

“I can tell you that my beautiful wife, Isabelle, would be the first to say that her life truly started when she began living her vocation as a wife and as a mother.”

Yet, in today’s economy, many families simply cannot afford the luxury having a stay-at-home mom (no matter how badly they want to), while others struggle silently with infertility, unable to have the children they desperately want.

Online commenters were quick to point out that Butker’s wife, who he praised in his speech, most likely has the financial resources she needs to stay home, hire help, and enjoy life — a financial situation many Americans simply cannot relate to.

This was further highlighted when Butker praised the Traditional Latin Mass (TLM), and encouraged families to up and move to an area of the country where TLM is available — without considering the cost of moving, finding a job, or leaving family support behind.

“The TLM is so essential that I would challenge each of you to pick a place to move where it is readily available… I prioritize the TLM even if the parish isn’t beautiful, the priest isn’t great, or the community isn’t amazing. I still go to the TLM because I believe the holy sacrifice of the Mass is more important than anything else.”

Problem #5: Butker Didn’t “Stay in His Own Lane”

Multiple times throughout his twenty-minute speech, Butker encouraged his listeners to “stay in their lane,” while bemoaning political and religious leaders who he feels have not.

“As a group, you witnessed firsthand how bad leaders who don’t stay in their lane can have a negative impact on society.”

“Our bishops are not politicians but shepherds, so instead of fitting in the world by going along to get along, they too need to stay in their lane and lead.”

“Being locked in with your vocation and staying in your lane is going to be the surest way for you to find true happiness and peace in this life.”

Yet, despite claiming to want to stay in his own lane as a husband or father, the majority of his speech consists of him giving his own personal opinion on exactly how politicians, religious leaders, men, and women should behave within their roles.

Many women were offended that Butker, a man with a great deal of privilege and resources, was telling them how they should be wives and mothers, and implying that they are somehow less holy if they don’t follow his ideas.

Problem #6: The Speech Was Anti-LGBTQ+

While the Catholic Church is unapologetically opposed to the LGBTQ+ lifestyle (and both Butker and Benedictine College are outspoken about their Catholic beliefs), many found Butker’s choice of words against the LGBTQ+ community highly offensive.

His speech contained phrases including,

• “the tyranny of diversity, equity, and inclusion…”
• “a growing support for degenerate cultural values in media”
• “people pushing dangerous gender ideologies onto the youth of America…”
• “Not the deadly sin sort of pride that has an entire month dedicated to it…”

Problem #7: He Referenced Taylor Swift

Other online commenters found it amusing that Butker would reference his teammate Travis Kelce’s girlfriend, Taylor Swift, in his speech.

“because as my teammate’s girlfriend says, familiarity breeds contempt.”

While this isn’t particular problematic, some felt that he should have chosen to reference a Catholic Saint instead of a cultural icon or that he should have noted that the quote didn’t originate with the pop princess.

Others smartly pointed out that the song Butker was referencing, Bejeweled, is about a woman who is choosing to shine for who she is, rather than be held down by a man’s opinions of who she should be or what role she should have.

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