Serena Williams dismisses Harrison Butker’s remarks on women as ‘homemakers’: ‘We don’t need him’
Serena Williams made fun of NFL’s Harrison Butker at an awards show for his comments about women as “homemakers”.
During the ESPY sporting awards ceremony, Serena, along with her sister Venus Williams and comedian Quinta Brunson, discussed women’s sports and targeted Butker, who was present at the event.
Addressing the audience, Venus said: “Enjoy women’s sports like you would any other sports, because they are sports.”
Serena then called out Butker, saying “we don’t need you” before Brunson added: “At all. Like, ever.”
This comes after Butker criticized abortion, called Pride month a “deadly sin”, and criticized lockdown measures during the COVID pandemic in a speech to graduates at Benedictine College in Kansas in May.
His comments on women in the workforce gained attention when he claimed they were fed “diabolical lies” and suggested their primary role in life would be as “homemakers”.
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Backlash over NFL player’s ‘sexist’ speech
Butker responds
Although the Super Bowl winning kicker was not seen on camera during the event, he later criticized Serena for using women’s sports to create division.
“I thought Mrs. Williams did a great job as a host and I commend her for expressing her beliefs on various topics using her platform,” he said.
“Sports are meant to unite people and at an event dedicated to celebrating a diverse group of individuals who have achieved great things, she used it as an opportunity to exclude those who she disagrees with from supporting fellow athletes.”
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In a statement, the NFL’s senior vice president and chief diversity and inclusion officer Jonathan Beane clarified that the Chiefs kicker was expressing his personal views during the commencement speech.
He told People magazine: “His views do not represent those of the NFL as an organization. The NFL remains committed to inclusion, which strengthens our league.”
Butker later reaffirmed his speech, stating at the Courage Under Fire Gala in Nashville, Tennessee, that “it is now clear that the timeless Catholic values are despised by many”.
