Those who hoped that $25 million would change Harrison Butker’s mind or soften his views on the place Christianity should have in our lives received a very disappointing answer Wednesday.
The Chiefs kicker, who angered leftists and atheists (and even some on the right) by defending motherhood over careers and slamming Joe Biden’s handling of COVID, abortion, IVF and other issues in a commencement speech at Benedictine University in May, angered opponents again when he signed a massive $25.6 million contract with the Chiefs earlier this week, becoming the NFL’s highest-paid kicker.
“Our country is led by a man who openly and proudly proclaims his Catholic faith, yet at the same time is so delusional that he makes the sign of the cross at a pro-abortion rally,” Butker said at the time.
oh: #Chiefs Kicker Harrison Butker slammed President Joe Biden, saying he is delusional.
“He has been a vocal supporter of the murder of innocent babies, and to many people he appears to be both Catholic and pro-abortion.”
(Danny Durbina)
pic.twitter.com/UK2tcnV3gi— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) May 13, 2024
“He has been a vocal supporter of the murder of innocent babies, so he must appear to many to be both Catholic and pro-abortion,” he said, slamming the president and adding that the left is destroying the country with a “tyranny of diversity, equity and inclusion.”
When reporters at Benedictine University asked him about those comments on Wednesday, Butker stressed that nearly three months have passed since those statements were made and nothing has changed.
“I prayed about it, I thought about it, and I was very intentional about what I said,” Butker said. “I stand by what I said.”
“I truly believe that if people know me as a person, they understand that it’s spoken out of love and not meant to be patronizing or degrading,” Butker added. “I only want what’s best for people, and that’s what I was trying to say there, and I think everyone in that gym understood what I was saying.”
#Chiefs Kicker Harrison Butker spoke to local media at training camp today for the first time since his much-talked-about commencement speech at Benedictine University in May.
Some of his comments, especially the feedback he received: pic.twitter.com/9wjQxmShTv
— Marleah Campbell (@MarleahKCTV5) August 7, 2024
Not everyone disagreed when Butker touted Christian values. Chiefs heir Gracie Hunt defended Butker and the influence of her stay-at-home mother.
“I can only speak from my own experience, and I mean, I was blessed with an amazing mother who stayed home with us while my kids were growing up,” Hunt said. “I understand that there are a lot of women out there who can’t make that decision, but I know in my life that it really had a huge impact on me and my siblings becoming who we are.”
The Chiefs will open the season at home against the Ravens on September 5th. Thursday Night Football.
