Harrison Butker, the Kansas City Chiefs’ star kicker, has found himself at the center of a firestorm following his controversial commencement speech at Benedictine College.
Butker’s remarks, which included referring to Pride Month as a “deadly sin,” have ignited a fierce backlash across the city, and now prominent figures are calling for the Chiefs to take a stand.
Justice Horn, Kansas City’s former LGBTQ+ commissioner, weighed in on the controversy during an interview on “TMZ Live” this Thursday. Horn didn’t mince words, stating that Butker’s views on women and the LGBTQ+ community are not only outdated but also harmful. “These opinions aren’t part of mainstream discourse, and quite frankly, they shouldn’t be,” Horn declared.
The NFL swiftly distanced itself from Butker’s comments, emphasizing that he was speaking in a personal capacity and not as a representative of the league. However, the Kansas City Chiefs have remained conspicuously silent on the matter, and this silence has not gone unnoticed.
Horn praised the NFL’s prompt response but stressed that the Chiefs need to follow suit. “The team needs to make clear what it stands for,” Horn urged. He pointed out the irony of the Chiefs’ prominent “End Racism” stencil in their end zone, suggesting that the team should demonstrate a similar commitment to supporting the LGBTQ+ community.
Horn advocates for Chiefs’ clarity over suspension
Despite his strong disapproval of Butker’s remarks, Horn stopped short of calling for the kicker’s suspension. Instead, he focused on the need for a clear and strong stance from the Chiefs organization. “It’s about making sure everyone knows where the team stands on these important issues,” Horn explained.
The controversy has sparked debates across the nation, with notable figures chiming in. Whoopi Goldberg defended Butker’s right to free speech, comparing his comments to Colin Kaepernick’s protest. However, Horn dismissed this comparison as a flawed analogy. “It’s apples and oranges,” he said, underscoring the different contexts and implications of the two situations. As Kansas City waits for the Chiefs to break their silence, the city’s unity against Butker’s views continues to grow. The ball is now in the Chiefs’ court to show whether their commitment to inclusivity and diversity is more than just a slogan painted on the field.
