Serena Williams has not hidden her feelings about Chiefs’ controversial kicker Harrison Butker.
When she, her sister Venus Williams and “Abbott Elementary” actress Quinta Brunson took to the stage at the 2024 ESPY Awards, Venus urged sports fans to just enjoy it because “women’s sports are sports, just like any other sports.”
Selina appeared to laugh as her sister read the message from a teleprompter, then delivered it directly to Butker, who was in the audience at the awards’ Dolby Theatre.
“We don’t need you anywhere else, except for you, Harrison Butker,” Selina said, looking straight into the camera, eliciting laughter and applause from the audience.
“Exactly… exactly the same as always,” Branson added.
Butker caused controversy in May when he gave a commencement speech at Benedictine University, a religious school in Kansas, criticizing the US government’s response to COVID-19 as well as a number of political, religious and cultural issues.
But it was his comments about women that drew the most backlash, when he told the graduates in the audience that “women are the ones who have been told the worst lies.”
“As you sit here, walking across this stage, how many of you are thinking about the promotion or the title you’re going to get at work? Some of you may be successful in the world, but for most of you, I’m sure you’re most excited about marriage and the children you’re going to bring into the world,” Buchter said in his speech.
Butker was in attendance at Thursday night’s ceremony to support his Chiefs teammates who were honored at this year’s ESPYs, including Patrick Mahomes, who won the men’s sports player of the year award.
July 11, 2024 in theaters in Los Angeles, California, USA. Caroline Breman/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
He hit the red carpet wearing a cream tuxedo jacket, a black bow tie, pinstripe pants, and black dress shoes.
Butker also showed off his Super Bowl championship ring on the red carpet, sitting a few rows behind Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, who accepted the award on Mahomes’ behalf.
