Harrison Butker responds to Serena Williams' ESPYs dig: 'Sports are supposed to be the great unifier'
Serena Williams, an icon in the world of tennis, didn't shy away from making headlines at the 2024 ESPY Awards held at the Dolby Theatre. Amidst the glitz and glamour, Williams took a playful yet pointed dig at Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker. The jest came during a segment where Williams, her sister Venus, and "Abbott Elementary" creator and star Quinta Brunson humorously guided the audience on how to enjoy women's sports.

The line that targeted Butker was sharp and direct. As Venus wrapped up an explanation on the importance of engaging with women's sports, Serena quipped, "Except you, Harrison Butker. We don't need you." Brunson chimed in, adding, "At all. Like, ever," which sent the crowd into a fit of laughter and applause.

The joke was part of a broader comedic segment that also subtly called out ESPN's Pat McAfee for derogatory remarks about basketball player Caitlin Clark and included a humorous comparison by Serena about her achievements while pregnant, juxtaposed with LeBron James potentially winning an NBA championship with his son Bronny.

Butker, who was present at the event, was notably not shown on camera following the joke. The next day, he responded with a statement to NBC News, expressing his disappointment: "I thought Mrs. Williams was a great host and applaud her for using her platform to express her beliefs on a variety of topics. Sports are supposed to be the great unifier, and at an event dedicated to celebrating a diverse group of men and women who have accomplished great feats, she used it as an opportunity to disinvite those with whom she disagrees from supporting fellow athletes."

Butker has become a controversial figure in the NFL following his commencement address at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas. During his speech, he touched on several politically sensitive subjects, including his opposition to abortion and in vitro fertilization, his stance against LGBTQ pride, a false claim about the Antisemitism Awareness Act passed by the U.S. House, and his belief that women have been misled about the value of professional careers over homemaking.

These comments were met with widespread criticism and mockery, even from rivals within the NFL. While the league quickly distanced itself from Butker's statements, key figures from the Chiefs publicly supported his right to express his views, even if they did not align with his opinions.

At the ESPYs, a venue filled with numerous female athletes who likely disagreed with Butker's controversial stances, it was perhaps inevitable that someone like Serena Williams, armed with a microphone and a sharp wit, would seize the moment to make her point.

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