Recently, Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker made headlines with his commencement speech at Benedictine College, where he encouraged women to embrace homemaking.
“I think it is you, the women, who have had the most diabolic lies told to you,” Butker stated. “Some of you may go on to lead successful careers in the world, but I would venture to guess that the majority of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into this world. I can tell you that my beautiful wife Isabelle would be the first to say her life truly started when she started living her vocation as a wife and as a mother.”
Butker’s comments sparked a petition for his removal from the Chiefs, but ESPN host Sam Ponder has come to his defense, labeling the backlash as “unamerican.”
“I think the petition that he should be fired from the Chiefs is totally unamerican,” Ponder remarked. “Is a Catholic espousing traditionally Catholic views to a Catholic audience really that shocking?! Why can’t we just respectfully disagree?!”
Ponder expressed agreement with some of Butker’s sentiments about family being a priority. “Personally, I agreed with a few things he said…especially that most women are more excited/proud of their families than their day jobs. I love my job and have worked my butt off to get here but it’s not even comparable to how I feel about being a mom! ESPN will not be with me on my death bed. When did that become offensive?”
However, she also voiced disagreement with the implication that a woman’s life only begins with marriage and motherhood. “I do not think my life ‘began’ when I became a wife and mom. I think you can live a totally fulfilled and purposeful life as a single woman in the workplace! Frankly, I think I could have had an equally meaningful life if I never got married or became a mother. I’m so proud to be an American where he can share his beliefs openly.”
Despite the controversy, it appears unlikely that Butker will be removed from the Chiefs, especially since Tavia Hunt, wife of Chiefs owner Clark Hunt, has expressed agreement with his comments.
