Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker doubled down on his controversial commencement speech telling women to focus on being homemakers — saying he had no regrets despite sparking a "shocking level of hate."
During remarks at a Catholic school's fundraising event in Nashville, Tennessee, Butker made his first public comments since saying female college graduates were probably "most excited" about getting married and having kids.
"If it wasn't clear that the timeless Catholic values are hated by many, it is now," Butker told attendees at the Regina Caeli Academy's "Courage Under Fire" gala on Friday, according to a video clip posted on social media.
Harrison Butker doesn't regret speaking out about his conservative Christian values, and he offers no apologies.
— Julia 🇺🇸 (@Jules31415) May 25, 2024
"The theme for tonight's gala—'Courage Under Fire'—was decided many months ago, but it now seems providential that this would be the theme after what we have all… pic.twitter.com/SOUrSuLVmt
His remarks came after the Catholic nuns who co-founded Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas — where Butker sparked an uproar with his May 11 commencement speech — said his comments didn't represent the Catholic school's values.
The May 15 statement from the Benedictine Sisters of Mount St. Scholastica said the focus of the school was to cultivate a "compassionate heart" among both male and female students.
"Instead of promoting unity in our church, our nation, and the world, his comments seem to have fostered division," the statement said.
On Friday, Butker said that during the initial response to his speech at Benedictine, "many people expressed a shocking level of hate."
"But as the days went on, even those who disagreed with my viewpoints shared their support for my freedom of religion," he said.
Butker also said that while he received both praise and criticism for his work as a professional athlete, "the more I've talked about what I value most — which is my Catholic faith — the more polarizing I've become."
"It's a decision I've consciously made and one I do not regret at all," he said.
In addition to his comments about women's careers and motherhood, Butker's commencement speech included telling male graduates to fight the "cultural emasculation of men," and suggested that gay pride was a "deadly sin."
Following outrage over the remarks, the NFL distanced itself from Butker.
"His views are not those of the NFL as an organization," senior vice president and chief diversity and inclusion officer Jonathan Beane said. "The NFL is steadfast in our commitment to inclusion, which only makes our league stronger."
