It’s been over a week since it first went viral and Travis Kelce has finally responded to Harrison Butker‘s controversial commencement speech. The Kansas City kicker made some pretty reprehensible comments about the roles of women in “modern” society in an address to Benedictine College—a Catholic liberal arts college in Kansas.
His speech took place on May 11, 2024, at Benedictine College—a Catholic liberal arts college in Kansas—and he had the audacity to reference Taylor Swift in his speech, quoting her song “Bejewelled”: “As my teammate’s girlfriend says, ‘familiarity breeds contempt’” among other attacks on abortion, contraception, IVF, and accused world leaders of “pushing dangerous gender ideologies onto the youth of America.”
On an episode of his podcast New Heights that he co-hosts with his brother Jason, Travis said that he’s known “Harry” for many years. While he says he’s a “great person” who is entitled to his views, Travis clarified that didn’t agree with “just about any of it besides him loving his family and his kids.” He added, “I’m just gonna go back to my beliefs and my family. My views are never gonna be the same as the man next to me.”
Jason, for his part, noted that his wife Kylie was “frustrated” by Butker’s comments. “Initially, I said, ‘You’re going to need to go back into the kitchen and make me a sandwich. I’m listening to the game right now,’” Jason joked, to which both men burst out laughing indicating how ridiculous that statement was.
The day after Butker delivered his speech, Swift dedicated an Instagram post to “the new Tortured Poets section of the Eras Tour (aka Female Rage The Musical!)”. Swift has been an advocate for equality and an ally to the LGBTQ+ community so it’s safe to say his values do not align with hers.
Fans too have taken to the Chief’s Instagram account in response to Butker’s comments. When sharing the team’s schedule for the upcoming football season, the comments section was flooded with satirical observations. “My husband doesn’t let me watch TV, he says it gives me ideas,” wrote one. “sorry i can’t watch, i’ll miss my fertile window,” said another.
Others weren’t so apologetic. “Imagine capitalizing on Taylor F-ing Swift all season and then letting Butker talk shit about successful career-driven women. How dare you USE WOMEN all season and then turn your backs on us so blatantly….” Another expressed a similar sentiment: “A woman brought in an additional $331.5 million dollars for you and you can’t make a statement???” making reference to Swift’s attendance at Chief’s games over the 2023 season.
