Brooke Schwartz, the wife of retired Kansas City Chiefs offensive tackle Mitch Schwartz, criticized her husband’s former teammate Harrison Butker for his controversial graduation speech. In a series of Instagram Stories, Brooke expressed her disdain for Butker’s comments urging women to embrace their role as homemakers. She found it troubling that young women graduating college were being told that the most important thing they could become is a homemaker, likening it to something out of “The Handmaid’s Tale.”
Brooke continued to call out Butker in another Story slide, emphasizing that it is never a man’s place to tell women what their roles should be in society. She expressed sadness for Butker’s daughter and called out the NFL star for quoting Taylor Swift in his speech, seemingly unaware of her feminist views. Butker had made these comments during his commencement address at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, on May 11, where he highlighted that women were often told diabolical lies about their roles.
During his speech, Butker singled out the female audience, suggesting that their excitement about marriage and children would be greater than their ambitions for career success. He credited his success to his wife, claiming that she truly began her life when she embraced her role as a wife and mother. While Butker faced criticism on social media for his remarks, celebrities like Jenna Bush Hager and Hoda Kotb also spoke out against him, urging him not to speak for women. The NFL also distanced itself from Butker’s comments, stating that they did not reflect the views of the organization.
Despite the backlash, Butker stood by his comments, emphasizing the importance of traditional gender roles in his speech. He believed that all of his success was made possible by his wife embracing her role as a homemaker, which he deemed a crucial title. Celebrities and social media users condemned Butker for his outdated views on gender roles, with Flavor Flav suggesting that players like Butker should stay in their lanes and not give commencement speeches about topics they may not fully understand.
Overall, the controversy surrounding Harrison Butker’s graduation speech sparked discussions about gender roles and the importance of allowing women to make their own choices in life. Brooke Schwartz’s criticisms and the subsequent backlash from celebrities and social media users highlighted the need for progressive attitudes towards gender equality and the empowerment of women to pursue their goals and aspirations without being confined to traditional roles. The NFL’s statement distancing itself from Butker’s views further emphasized the importance of respecting individual choices and viewpoints in a diverse and inclusive society.
