Serena Williams Calls Out Harrison Butker In Defense Of Women At 2024 ESPYs: “We Don’t Need You”

Serena Williams called out Kansas City Chiefs player Harrison Butker at the 2024 ESPY Awards after his controversial remarks about the role of women.

The tennis champion hosted the award ceremony, and during the gala, she was joined by sister Venus Williams and Abbot Elementary creator Quinta Brunson to celebrate women in sports.

“So, go ahead and enjoy women’s sports like you would any other sports because they are sports,” Venus Williams said.

Serena added, “Except you, Harrison Butker. We don’t need you.” Brunson then said, “At all. Like, ever.”

“So, go ahead and enjoy women’s sports like you would any other sports, because they are sports.” – Venus Williams
“Except you, Harrison Butker. We don’t need you.” – Serena Williams
“At all. Like, ever.” – Quinta Brunson #ESPYS pic.twitter.com/RhvxfiHUWN
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) July 12, 2024

Earlier this year, Butker gave a commencement speech at Benedictine College in Atchison in Kansas where he expressed his belief that women receiving their degrees were most looking forward to be homemakers.

“I think it is you, the women, who have had the most diabolical lies told to you,” Butker said. “Some of you may go on to lead successful careers in the world, but I would venture to guess that the majority of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into this world. I can tell you that my beautiful wife Isabelle would be the first to say that her life truly started when she started living her vocation as a wife and as a mother.”

After receiving backlash over his comments, Butker said he had no regrets in expressing his beliefs.

“It is now, over the past few days, my beliefs or what people think I believe have been the focus of countless discussions around the globe,” Butker said in the aftermath of the backlash (via ESPN). “At the outset, many people expressed a shocking level of hate. But as the days went on, even those who disagreed with my viewpoints shared their support for my freedom of religion.”

He added, “It’s a decision I’ve consciously made and one I do not regret at all.”

The NFL distanced themselves from Butker’s comments saying in a statement he “gave a speech in his personal capacity. His views are not those of the NFL as an organization. The NFL is steadfast in our commitment to inclusion, which only makes our league stronger.”

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