In a provocative post marking Pride Month, pop singer Katy Perry targeted Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker, a devout Catholic, for his commencement speech at Benedictine College. Butker, who had lauded the role of motherhood and homemaking, found himself at the center of Perry’s edited video that twisted his words to promote feminist and LGBT themes.
Butker’s original speech was a heartfelt message celebrating the importance of family and the often undervalued role of homemakers. He began by addressing the women graduates directly, saying, “For the ladies present today, congratulations on an amazing accomplishment. You should be proud of all that you have achieved to this point in your young lives. I want to speak directly to you briefly because I think it is you, the women, who have had the most diabolical lies told to you.”
He continued by discussing his wife’s impactful decision to be a homemaker rather than pursuing a corporate career, emphasizing how vital her role has been in their family’s success. “How many of you are sitting here now about to cross this stage and are thinking about all the promotions and titles you are going to get in your career? 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 began living her vocation as a wife and as a mother,” he said.
Butker credited his wife’s dedication to their family as a cornerstone of his own success. “I’m on the stage today and able to be the man I am because I have a wife who leans into her vocation. I’m beyond blessed with the many talents God has given me, but it cannot be overstated that all of my success is made possible because a girl I met in band class back in middle school would convert to the faith, become my wife, and embrace one of the most important titles of all: homemaker.”
However, Perry’s post on Instagram altered Butker’s words to reflect a more progressive stance. Captioning the video with, “fixed this for my girls, my graduates, and my gays — you can do anything, congratulations and happy pride 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️ 🧡,” Perry’s version depicted Butker praising feminist achievements and LGBT inclusivity, far removed from his original message.
In Perry’s edited video, Butker’s speech began similarly but quickly diverged into a celebration of career aspirations over family life. “For the ladies present today, congratulations on an amazing accomplishment. You should be proud on all that you have achieved to this point in your young lives. How many of you are sitting here now about to cross this stage and are thinking about all the promotions and titles you’re going to get in your career?” he supposedly said.
Continuing in the altered speech, Butker allegedly stated, “I would venture to guess the women here today are going to lead successful careers in the world. I say all of this to you because I have seen it firsthand. How much happier someone can be supporting women and not saying that the majority of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into this world.”
The video concluded with a nod to modern progressive themes: “The road ahead is bright. Things are changing. Society is shifting, and people young and old are embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion. With that said, I want to say Happy Pride Month to all of you and congratulations Class of 2024!”
This incident underscores the ongoing cultural clash between traditional values and progressive agendas. Butker’s message, which aimed to celebrate the timeless role of women as homemakers and mothers, was transformed into a politically charged statement by Perry, sparking debate over the boundaries of artistic license and respect for differing beliefs. As society continues to navigate these cultural waters, the importance of maintaining a respectful dialogue cannot be overstated.
