Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker sparked outrage with his commencement speech at a private Kansas college. His comments criticizing President Joe Biden’s stance on abortion as a Catholic, along with remarks encouraging female graduates to embrace homemaking, were widely seen as offensive and outdated.
Butker’s speech drew heavy criticism online and in sports media. The “stick to sports” argument no longer holds any weight, given the nature of his remarks and those who seemingly agreed with what he had to say. There’s also a certain irony in his comments towards women, considering the NFL’s significant female fanbase and the recent surge in popularity due to Taylor Swift’s relationship with Butker’s teammate, Travis Kelce.
While Butker faced criticism across social media, former sportscaster Lisa Guerrero’s response resonated strongly. Guerrero, a veteran of the industry who covered Monday Night Football for ABC and co-hosted The Best Damn Sports Show Period, directed her criticism towards both Butker and the National Football League.
Hey @NFL – If you want to continue to grow your female fan base and any other marginalized group (straight white men are already watching your product), come get your boy. https://t.co/3sGjWUG7tg
— Lisa Guerrero 💃🏽 (@4lisaguerrero) May 14, 2024
Butker’s comments about women, which were transcribed below by the New York Post, were particularly what drew the ire of the longtime Inside Edition investigator:
“For the ladies present today, congratulations on an amazing achievement. You should be proud of all that you have achieved at 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 can tell you that my beautiful wife Isabelle would be the first to say that her life truly started when she began living her vocation as a wife and a mother. I am on this stage and able to be the man I am because I have a wife who leans into her vocation … It cannot be overstated that all of my success is made possible because of a girl I met in class back in middle school, convert to the faith, become my wife and embrace one of the most-important tiles of all: homemaker.”
Unsurprisingly, Guerrero’s comments attracted criticism on Elon Musk’s platform, particularly from those without a profile picture. She countered this pushback by highlighting her extensive experience covering the NFL for over a decade, both working for them and reporting on them. Not that she needed to establish credibility, but it shows why she has standing and knows the league’s audience—despite those in her mentions insinuating otherwise.
Honey, I worked for the @NFL for a decade then reported on them for over a dozen years (including 7 Super Bowls and a little show you may have heard of called MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL), and sued one of their owners and won. Pretty sure I got this. https://t.co/E2eh6DCbSp
— Lisa Guerrero 💃🏽 (@4lisaguerrero) May 15, 2024
Guerrero further emphasized the significance of the NFL’s female fanbase, citing studies that demonstrate its growing size. This viewership has only been amplified by Swift’s recent surge in popularity, which further highlights the potential consequences of Butker’s comments, suggesting they could alienate this significant demographic, particularly in light of the Chiefs’ growing female fan base.
Receipts all day long bro https://t.co/L2EYVcJySe pic.twitter.com/pv74uKM8oc
— Lisa Guerrero 💃🏽 (@4lisaguerrero) May 15, 2024
And for what it’s worth, Guerrero wasn’t the only media member with a notable following to chime in.
The NFL has another PR crisis on its hands, but whether it will actually say anything about Butker’s comments remains to be seen. He has his right to free speech, though there’s a certain Colin Kaepernick aspect that can be argued otherwise. Nonetheless, any player attempting to alienate any part of the league’s fanbase isn’t a good look. And that’s why those like Guerrero took aim at both the 28-year-old kicker and the league itself.
[Lisa Guerrero on X]
