Harrison Butker appeared to be displeased with Serena Williams’ playful jab that suggested he wasn’t welcome in the world of women’s sports.
The day after the iconic tennis player humorously roasted him onstage alongside her sister Venus and “Abbott Elementary” creator and star Quinta Brunson, the Kansas City Chiefs kicker released a statement to NBC News addressing the joke:
“I thought Mrs. Williams was a great host and applaud her for using her platform to express her beliefs on a variety of topics.” He added, “Sports are supposed to be the great unifier, and at an event dedicated to celebrating a diverse group of men and women who have accomplished great feats, she used it as an opportunity to disinvite those with whom she disagrees from supporting fellow athletes.”
Butker was present at the event but was notably absent from the camera shots following Williams’ comment. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid was also in attendance and accepted the Best NFL Player award on behalf of Patrick Mahomes.
The remark about Butker came during a segment where the Williams sisters and Brunson conducted a tongue-in-cheek seminar on how to enjoy women’s sports. Butker wasn’t the only target of their humor—ESPN’s Pat McAfee was subtly called out for his derogatory remark about Caitlin Clark, and Serena quipped about how winning a Grand Slam while pregnant was more impressive than LeBron James winning an NBA championship with his son Bronny.
However, the comment directed at Butker was the most pointed. As Venus explained how everyone should engage with women’s sports, Serena interjected, “Except you, Harrison Butker. We don’t need you.” Brunson added, “At all. Like, ever,” which elicited laughter and applause from the audience.
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Butker has become one of the NFL’s most polarizing figures since his commencement address at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas.
In his speech, he touched on several politically sensitive topics, including his opposition to abortion, in vitro fertilization, and LGBTQ pride, a false claim about the Antisemitism Awareness Act, and his belief that women have been misled about the value of pursuing professional careers over becoming homemakers.
His comments on women received widespread criticism and mockery, including from a rival in the Chiefs’ division. The NFL quickly distanced itself from his statements, while prominent Chiefs players supported Butker’s right to express his beliefs, even if they did not agree with his views.
It’s likely that many female athletes at the ESPYs disagreed with Butker’s comments. One of them just happened to have the microphone that night.
