Kansas City Chiefs player Harrison Butker responded to Serena Williams’ remarks from the 2024 ESPY Awards. During the ceremony, Serena, alongside her sister Venus Williams and comedian Quinta Brunson, sharply critiqued Butker for his previous comments on masculinity made during a commencement speech.
Butker had stated, “I know many of you are excited about the careers ahead of you, but I venture to say that most of you are much more excited about your marriages and the children you are bringing into the world […] As men, we set the pace for our culture, and we don’t have to apologize for our masculinity.”
During the awards, Venus Williams emphasized, “Enjoy women’s sport; it’s sport too.” Then, Serena remarked, “Everyone but you, Harrison Butker; we women don’t need you.” Brunson added, “Absolutely not, we never have.”
In his response the next day, Butker stated, “I thought Mrs. Williams was a great host and applaud her for using her platform to express her beliefs on various topics.” He then criticized using the awards ceremony, intended to unify and celebrate diverse athletic achievements, as a platform for excluding those with differing views, emphasizing that sports should be a unifying force.
