Kansas City Chiefs’ Harrison Butker Sparks Controversy with Commencement Speech, Faces Retaliation

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker, 28, recently found himself at the center of a heated controversy following a commencement speech he delivered at Benedictine College. During his address, Butker espoused views rooted in the Catholic Church’s moral teachings, which have been upheld for millennia and are followed by millions of Americans.

The three-time Super Bowl champion’s remarks echoed the late Pope John Paul II, condemning abortion, IVF, surrogacy, euthanasia, and what he described as “degenerate cultural values” pervasive in the media. Butker also spoke about the importance of marriage, motherhood, and the moral pitfalls of Pride month, as well as critiquing President Joe Biden’s stance on abortion in light of his professed Catholic faith.

Butker’s speech drew sharp criticism from liberal media and political figures, as well as a backlash from Kansas City’s social media accounts. On Wednesday evening, Kansas City’s X account posted a message that included Butker’s home address, a clear act of doxxing aimed at intimidating the athlete for his views.

The tweet, which appeared at 7:41 p.m., was widely condemned as an attempt to punish and endanger Butker. Public outcry quickly followed, with many pointing out that such actions are a blatant violation of privacy and potentially unlawful.

Matthew Peterson, editor in chief at Blaze News, emphasized the seriousness of the incident, stating, “If our cities are revealing private information about the residents they are supposed to be serving simply because local government officials disagree with their political views and statements, that’s a call to action. Americans need to band together and work locally to hold their local governments accountable.”

Shortly after, at 9:21 p.m., the Kansas City account posted a retraction, stating, “We apologize for our previous tweet. It was shared in error.” However, this apology only further fueled the outrage, as it drew more attention to the original offense.

Criticism also came from prominent figures such as Catholic conservative commentator Michael Knowles, who tweeted, “@KansasCity: not only criminal but also illiterate,” referencing a spelling error in the apology.

Speculation arose about the tweet’s author, with some suggesting it was Andrea Watts, whose LinkedIn profile contained a similar spelling mistake and has since been deactivated. Michael Caputo, a former Department of Health and Human Services official, called for the immediate dismissal of Kansas City’s social media team.

Mayor Quinton Lucas also addressed the incident, tweeting, “A message appeared earlier this evening from a City public account. The message was clearly inappropriate for a public account. The City has correctly apologized for the error, will review account access, and ensure nothing like it is shared in the future from public channels.” His response was met with skepticism and ridicule.

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey weighed in, promising accountability. He stated, “My office is demanding accountability after @KansasCity doxxed @buttkicker7 last night for daring to express his religious beliefs. I will enforce the Missouri Human Rights Act to ensure Missourians are not targeted for their free exercise of religion.”

In a letter to Mayor Lucas, Bailey accused the city of retaliating against Butker for his religious views, asserting that such actions are discriminatory and violate constitutional and state protections for religious expression.

Despite the backlash and potential legal ramifications for the city, Butker has seen a surge in support. His jersey has become one of the most popular in the NFL, suggesting that many fans stand behind his right to express his beliefs.

The incident serves as a potent reminder of the ongoing tensions between personal expression and public backlash, especially when it involves deeply held religious convictions.