Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce has publicly expressed his disagreement with his teammate Harrison Butker’s recent commencement speech at Benedictine College. Although Kelce is friends with Butker and cherishes him as a teammate, he told his New Heights podcast audience that he could not agree with “just about any” of the opinions expressed in the address. The speech drew criticism on social media for its disparaging remarks about women and the LGBTQ+ community.
Butker, the Chiefs kicker, quoted a line from Taylor Swift’s song “Bejeweled” during the speech while addressing women in the audience. He remarked that he believed the majority of them would be most excited to make a home with their future spouses and have children. Butker also addressed male graduates, telling them to “be unapologetic in your masculinity” and rallying them against “the cultural emasculation of men.” He also referred to pride within the LGBTQ+ community as a “deadly sin.”
While Kelce supports his friend’s right to hold different opinions, he made it clear that he and Butker come from different backgrounds. Kelce pointed to his own upbringing in Cleveland Heights, which exposed him to diverse social classes, religions, races, and ethnicities. He also remarked that he was proud of his parents, who were both fully present as homemakers and providers for their family.
The controversy surrounding Butker’s speech sparked outrage among fans of Taylor Swift and the LGBTQ+ community. In response, the NFL released a statement clarifying that Butker spoke in his personal capacity and does not represent the views of the organization. They reiterated their commitment to inclusion and support for diversity across the league
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