Kansas City confirmed it had fired a city employee who used a government account on Twitter to post about the neighborhood where Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker lives after his commencement speech at a private Catholic university drew backlash from the left.
Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas confirmed the employee had been fired in an interview with KCMO Talk Radio on Thursday, the station reported.
KBTXThe city also released a statement saying, “The employee in question has been removed from the city’s staff for violating city policy by posting outside the scope of the city’s permitted communications. The city will not comment further on the post or the individual employee associated with the post.”
“I don’t think he was saying bad things about women.”
The initial post remained up for about 30 minutes before being removed, after which the city’s account posted an “apology” for the “mistake.”
“Over the past 24 hours, harassers, bullies and intimidators have sent slander, threats and shared photos of female employees unrelated to any recent city posts. Please stop and do the right thing. I am responsible. Please leave them alone,” Lucas said. Said in response to outrage over the city’s post.
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey has threatened to sue the city, alleging that the city abused its position to go after Butker because of his religious beliefs.
“I will enforce the Missouri Human Rights Act to ensure that Missourians are not targeted for the free exercise of their religion,” Governor Bailey announced.
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes both said they supported Butker when asked about a speech he gave at Benedictine University in support of his family.
“I don’t think he was saying anything bad about women,” Reid said. “He has his opinions and we all respect them. I put you in this room and a lot of your opinions are ones that I don’t like.”
“I’ve known him for seven years. I judge him by the character that he displays every day, which is a good person. He’s a person that cares about the people around him and cares about his family,” Mahomes explained. “We don’t always agree. I don’t always agree with what he says.”
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