JUST IN:Controversy Surrounds Butker’s Views on Women’s Roles and LGBTQ Community.Butker responded to their …
Butker responded to their comments in a statement to NBC Sports, saying, “I thought Mrs. Williams was a great host and commend her for using her platform to express her beliefs on various topics.”
He added, “Sports are meant to be a great unifier, and at an event celebrating a diverse group of men and women who have achieved great things, she chose to exclude those who disagree with her from supporting fellow athletes.”
These remarks follow Butker’s controversial commencement speech at Benedictine College, where he essentially stated that a woman’s primary career should be childbearing.
“Some of you may go on to have successful careers, but I believe most of you are most excited about your marriages and children,” he said in his 20-minute speech, which criticized abortion, euthanasia, IVF, surrogacy, and the LGBTQ community.
He also condemned the “diabolical lies told to women,” advocating for traditional gender roles. “My beautiful wife, Isabelle, would be the first to say that her life truly began when she started living her vocation as a wife and mother,” he said, emphasizing her role as a homemaker.
The Williams sisters and Brunson also appeared to address Pat McAfee’s comments from last month, when he referred to Caitlin Clark as a “white bitch” during a discussion about her talent on his ESPN show.
The women listed acceptable terms for referring to female athletes, including “athlete,” “champion,” and “dumbass” (because, according to Brunson, all athletes are dumbasses sometimes).
“Just don’t use the b-word,” they said to audience cheers.
During the awards show, Prince Harry received the Pat Tillman Award, which is “given to a person with a strong connection to sports who has served others in a way that reflects the legacy of former NFL player and U.S. Army Ranger, Pat Tillman,” according to ESPN.
