The NFL has finally responded to the inflammatory comments made by Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker in a commencement speech that criticized women in the workforce.
Butker’s derogatory speech at Benedictine College, a Catholic school in Kansas, has drawn a stark wave of criticism, predominantly for its sexist and misogynistic views.
The Chiefs kicker also made disparaging comments toward the LGBTQ+ community, criticized families who utilized IVF to have a child, misinterpreted Biblical text about the death of Jesus when discussing a recent bill that targets antisemitism on college campuses and made judgments of President Joe Biden’s Catholic faith, among other offensive remarks.
Outside of being roasted by the Los Angeles Chargers social media team during its schedule release, the NFL has pushed back on Butker’s speech and affirmed its commitment its inclusive practices and beliefs.
“Harrison Butker gave a speech in his personal capacity,” Jonathan Beane, the NFL’s senior vice president and chief diversity and inclusion officer, said in a statement to PEOPLE magazine. “His views are not those of the NFL as an organization. The NFL is steadfast in our commitment to inclusion, which only makes our league stronger.”
As of publication, the Chiefs have not issued a statement on Butker’s comments.
