Jason Whitlock has criticized Travis Kelce for his response to teammate Harrison Butker’s contentious speech at Benedictine College, Kansas.
Butker’s remarks, suggesting female graduates should aspire to the role of homemakers, using his wife as an example, sparked considerable backlash.
Kelce, in discussing Butker’s speech, stated he disagreed with most of his teammate’s points but refrained from condemning him outright. Kelce emphasized the values of his own upbringing, noting both his parents worked and took care of the home, which shaped his differing views.
However, Whitlock accused Kelce of lacking substance in his comments, branding him as having no self-awareness, a consequence, Whitlock argues, of the undue adoration society bestows upon athletes. “Travis Kelce said a whole lot of nothing there because he has virtually no self-awareness,” Whitlock asserted. He further critiqued Kelce for benefiting from “athletic privilege” due to his physical stature and sports abilities, suggesting that without these, Kelce wouldn’t have the platform or success he enjoys today.
Kelce had addressed the controversy on his show, New Heights, defending Butker’s right to his views while clearly stating his disagreement, particularly with Butker’s stance on gender roles. “When it comes down to his views and what he said at the Saint Benedict’s commencement speech, those are his. I can’t say I agree with the majority of it or just about any of it outside of just him loving his family and his kids,” Kelce said. He stressed that judging others, especially on religious grounds, was not in his nature, citing his diverse upbringing in Cleveland Heights which taught him to appreciate different perspectives.
Kelce also spoke highly of his parents, appreciating their dual roles as providers and homemakers, which enriched his upbringing significantly.
Despite the outcry, including a petition demanding Butker’s dismissal from the Chiefs, which garnered over 225,000 signatures, Kelce chose to highlight the positives of his teammate’s family values rather than denounce him.
