Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker gave a controversial commencement speech at Benedictine College that received backlash online. Despite this, his jersey sales are doing well, with his jersey listed among the NFL Shop’s top sellers. Fans continue to support Butker even after he made disparaging comments about Pride Month, the transgender community, COVID-19, and women. Critics point out that Butker suggested women should aspire to be homemakers in his speech.
Butker’s comments about Pride Month sparked outrage, as he claimed it celebrates “dangerous gender ideologies.” He also addressed COVID-19, attributing issues like abortion, IVF, surrogacy, euthanasia, and cultural values to what he described as disorder resulting from poor leadership and policies. A Change.org petition with nearly 190,000 signatures calls for the Chiefs to dismiss Butker due to his remarks being labeled sexist, homophobic, anti-trans, anti-abortion, and racist. The petitioners accuse Butker of perpetuating division and undermining human rights with his comments.
NFL players earn money from jersey sales, with a portion of the proceeds going to the NFL Players Association and the player whose name appears on the back of the uniform. Despite the backlash over his commencement speech, Butker’s jersey remains popular among fans, appearing as the “Most Popular in Kansas City Chiefs” listing on the NFL Shop. The NFL has not yet responded to requests for comments on the situation, leaving Butker’s future with the Chiefs uncertain as the petition gains momentum.
The petition calling for Butker’s dismissal aims to reach a goal of 200,000 signatures, with over 75,000 people signing on Friday alone. The petition demands accountability from sports figures as role models and emphasizes the importance of promoting respect for all individuals regardless of race, gender identity, or sexual orientation. The petitioners insist that the Chiefs should take action against Butker for what they view as inappropriate conduct in his commencement speech. The controversy surrounding Butker’s remarks has fueled a debate about free speech and the responsibilities of public figures in addressing sensitive issues.
