The ESPY Awards not only honor the best performances in sports, but also provide a platform for the world’s best athletes to express themselves off the beaten path, and this year’s ceremony, held on Thursday night in Los Angeles, was no exception.
Hosted by tennis legend Serena Williams, the event celebrated the usual achievements, with superstars such as Patrick Mahomes, Simone Biles and Max Verstappen receiving awards, but at one point it also touched on larger societal issues like misogyny and the underestimation of female achievements in sports and beyond.
One athlete has become emblematic of this: Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker, who gave a controversial speech at Benedictine University earlier this year.
Butker’s comments, which I won’t repeat here, were understandably met with widespread criticism at the time, and two months later, Serena Williams, Venus Williams and Quinta Brunson all had their say on the matter.
“So enjoy women’s sports just like you would any other sport, because it is a sport.” – Venus Williams
“Except you, Harrison Butker. I don’t need you.” – Serena Williams
“Totally. Totally.” – Quinta Brunson #ESPYS pic.twitter.com/RhvxfiHUWN
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) July 12, 2024
“Enjoy women’s sports like any other sport, because it’s a sport,” Venus Williams said, to which her sister responded, “Except you, Harrison Butker. We don’t need you.”
“Totally. Absolutely,” Branson added.
Harrison Butker doesn’t seem to mind, His team tooStill, the actions of the Williams sisters and Branson to call out misogyny onstage when they see it or are indirectly the target of it are commendable and worthy of further spreading.
Because, as Venus said, women’s sports are just as legitimate as men’s sports. Women’s sports and their athletes deserve the same respect and recognition.
