Flavor Flav called out Kansas City Chiefs player Harrison Butker after the NFL player gave a controversial speech at Benedictine College’s graduation ceremony.
During Butker’s May 11 speech, he attacked working women, abortion, in vitro fertilization (IVF) and surrogacy, and encouraged male graduates to “fight the cultural emasculation of men.”
At one point during the 20-minute address, Butker quoted lyrics written by Taylor Swift, referring to her only as “teammate’s girlfriend,” referring to her boyfriend, Travis Kelce.
“As my teammate’s girlfriend says, ‘intimacy breeds contempt,'” Butker said. Swift, 34, sings the line on her song “Bejeweled” from her 2022 album. Midnight.
The opening speech sparked backlash against the players, including Swift’s friend Flavo, 65.
After the speech made the rounds on social media, Flav took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to call out Butker. “Sounds like some players ‘should stay in their lanes’ and shouldn’t be giving opening speeches,” he wrote.
The rapper’s post was met with support from his and Swift’s fans, who agreed that Butker’s reduction of women to “housewives” and Swift to “teammates’ girlfriends” was wrong.
One user wrote: “Facts. I don’t care if it was at a Catholic college graduation. Valuing women as only valuable as wives/mothers and not as persons is sad. As a Christian mother of two girls, working full time over time, married to their father, I still consider myself a person with passions/dreams,” in response to Flav.
Another account wrote: “I love Flav. I support women’s sports and women in general.”
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During his speech, Butker said, “Things like abortion, IVF, surrogacy, euthanasia, as well as the increasing support for degenerative cultural values in the media, all stem from a pervasive disorder.”
He then addressed the graduates directly based on their gender.
He told the women, “To the ladies here today, congratulations on an incredible achievement,” he began. “I want to speak to you directly for a moment because I think you women have been the ones who have been told the most diabolical lies.”
Butker continued, “Some of you may have successful careers in the world, but I would venture to guess that most of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into this world.”
Harrison Butker #7 of the Kansas City Chiefs warms up before the game against the Philadelphia Eagles prior to Super Bowl LVII at State Farm Stadium on February 12, 2023.
Cooper Neill/Getty
Chiefs’ Harrison Butker criticized for graduation speech in which he attacked working women while quoting Taylor Swift
Addressing the graduates, Butker advised them in his speech to “make no apologies for their masculinity” and to “fight against the cultural emasculation of men.”
Butker said of his wife that he is “beyond blessed” because Isabelle “will convert to faith, become my wife and embrace one of the most important titles: Housewife.”
“Isabella’s career dream may not have come true, but if you asked her today if she regrets her decision, she would laugh out loud without hesitation and say, ‘Hey, no.'”
PEOPLE has reached out to the Kansas City Chiefs and a representative for Butker for comment.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education