Katy Perry re-edits Harrison Butker’s controversial commencement speech
Katy Perry has re-edited Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker’s recent controversial commencement speech.
Earlier this month, Butker delivered a controversial commencement speech during Benedictine College’s graduation ceremony, criticising working women and Pride in the process. In the speech, Butker suggested that women should take on roles as housewives and homemakers rather than chase careers.
Now, Perry has shared an edited version on her Instagram in honour of Pride month, which shows Butker celebrating the “ladies” in the audience who were graduating college, noting that they “should be proud of all that [they] have achieved to this point in [their] young lives”.
“Fixed this for my girls, my graduates, and my gays – you can do anything, congratulations and happy pride,” she wrote.
Instead of including his initial comments about why women should be “homemakers,” the new version shows him describing all the success women could reach in their careers. You can view it below.
“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 continued. “I would venture to guess the women here today are going to lead successful careers in the world.”
Butker’s claims that women shouldn’t pursue a career, and instead become a “wife and mother” were also altered to the following: “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 ends with him celebrating diversity and Pride month.
He added: “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.”
Butker was heavily criticised for his original speech by teammate Travis Kelce who said he said he did not agree with “just about any” of Butker’s words, which also quoted Taylor Swift.
Pearl Jam‘s Eddie Vedder also slammed Butker’s speech while onstage during a recent concert in Las Vegas.
He said: “There’s some good men and good women making up a great band. The singer, Jessica, and the keyboard player, Patti… they must not have believed that ‘diabolical lie’ that women should take pride in taking a back seat to their man.”
“There should be pride in homemaking, whether you’re a man or woman. It’s maybe one of the hardest jobs and you should definitely take pride in it. But you shouldn’t not follow a dream because you think… you’re going to benefit by giving up your dreams? I couldn’t understand the logic.”
Meanwhile, Perry recently began teasing a mysterious new era by changing her profile picture.
The post Katy Perry re-edits Harrison Butker’s controversial commencement speech appeared first on NME.
Damian Jones
NME
