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An NFL star has sparked controversy by telling female graduates that one of their most important roles in life will be “homemaker.”
Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison speaks on abortion and LGBT pride rally at Kansas Benedictine College.
His team’s three-time Super Bowl champion did not respond to requests for comment. The NFL said the matter was a “private” matter.
Nearly 160,000 people have signed a petition calling for the 28-year-old’s ouster.
In a 20-minute speech last Saturday, he said women graduating from a private Catholic college had been told “the most diabolical lie.”
“Some of you may lead successful operations in the world,” he said.
“But I’d venture to guess that most of you are very excited about your marriage and the children you’re about to bring into this world.”
Butker added that his wife’s life began “when she began her career as a wife and mother.”
He added that Isabelle Buttaker has embraced “one of the most important titles of all, housewife.” He appeared emotional when talking about his marriage.
Their speech attacked IVF, surrogacy, “corrupted cultural values”, “dangerous gender stereotypes” and “the tyranny of diversity, equity and inclusion”.
“Our country is led by a man who openly and proudly proclaims his Catholic faith, yet … has supported the killing of innocent infants,” he told President Joe Biden.
The Football League has distanced itself from his comments, saying “in his personal capacity … his views are not those of the NFL.”
LGBT advocacy group GLAAD called Booker’s speech “deeply offensive to Americans.”
Many social media users criticized the NFL star.
Stephanie Hills, a former NFL cheerleader, said on Chief Talk: “The best part of your speech is when you say ‘stay in your lane’ ten times plus, bro, take your own advice.”
But the speech was cheered by many conservatives. And the staunchly liberal comedian YP Goldberg defended Booker’s right to express his views.
“Those are his beliefs and you’re welcome to them,” she told her co-stars on ABC’s The View.
“I don’t have to believe it. Right? I don’t have to admit it.”
The Chiefs’ teammates have remained tight-lipped about the upheaval. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes told the Pat McPhee Show radio show that he doesn’t talk to his teammate very often.
“Honestly, man, I haven’t talked to Harrison all year. I let him do his thing,” Mahomes said.
Meanwhile, Missouri’s top attorney has vowed to investigate Wednesday’s doxxing of Booker’s social media account run by the Kansas City government.
The message, which revealed the neighborhood where the Booker family lives, was posted from the city-controlled public account X, formerly Twitter.
Attorney General Andrew Bailey said the investigation will determine whether the post violated the Missouri Civil Rights Act and targeted Butker “for daring to express his religious beliefs.”
It was canceled two hours later. Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas apologized for the message, calling it “clearly inappropriate.”
Bitker has played for the team since 2017.