Harrison Butker’s Now (in)Famous Speech: Overly Unjustified Negative Reaction, But I Personally Didn’t Like It

Sunday, May 11 NFL Kansas City Chief placekicker Harrison Butker gave the Commencement address at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas; Some of his remarks relevant to the ensuing controversy follow.

“For the ladies present today, congratulations on an amazing accomplishment. You should be proud of all that you have achieved to this point in your young lives. I want to speak directly to you briefly because I think it is you, the women, who have had the most diabolical lies told to you. How many of you are sitting here now about to cross this stage and are thinking about all the promotions and titles you are going to get in your career? 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’m beyond blessed with the many talents God has given me, but it cannot be overstated that all of my success is made possible because a girl I met in band class back in middle school would convert to the faith, become my wife, and embrace one of the most important titles of all: She is a primary educator to our children. She is the one who ensures I never let football or my business become a distraction from that of a husband and father. She is the person that knows me best at my core, and it is through our marriage that, Lord willing, we will both attain salvation.”

Vatzian Reactions:

1. Benedictine College is a private Kansas liberal arts college; his remarks were appropriate for his audience which loved it.
2. The NFL official reaction was as follows: “Harrison Butker gave a speech in his personal capacity. His views are not those of the NFL as an organization. The NFL is steadfast in our commitment to inclusion, which only makes our league stronger.”

The NFL statement was gratuitous and inappropriate…are they going to reflect on every speech made by their personnel? There was nothing insulting about Butker’s remarks. He did not say women should not work. If a person in a speech says some men should stay in their homes and tend to their children —perfectly acceptable to some — should the speaker’s employer trash the speech?

I personally would not want my son or daughter to be told by their college speaker that their best role would be as a homemaker. Most schools would not want such a speaker, but, unsurprisingly, Benedictine College does. That‘s their right…it is not my choice, but it is theirs, and the speech does not warrant the hostility and anger it has engendered.

Read Harrison Butker’s speech here.

Richard E. Vatz, Ph.D

 Richard E. Vatz is professor emeritus of political rhetoric at Towson University and author of The Only Authentic of Persuasion: the Agenda-Spin Model  (Authors Press, 2022) and many other works, essays and op-eds.  He is a Distinguished Professor at Towson University and has won a number of teaching awards.