culture

Serena Williams to Harrison Butker: ‘We Don’t Need You’

2024 ESPY Awards - Arrivals
Photo: WireImage

The NFL may have been quick to move on from Harrison Butker’s controversial commencement speech telling women that the “most important title” in their lives will be  “homemaker,” but it looks like some famous women won’t forget his words anytime soon. While hosting Thursday night’s ESPY Awards, Serena Williams — with an assist from her sister Venus Williams and comedian Quinta Brunson — took a moment to call out the Kansas City Chiefs kicker.

“Go ahead and enjoy women’s sports like you would any other sports, because they are sports,” Venus said before Serena chimed in, “Except you, Harrison Butker, we don’t need you.” Quinta Brunson closed out the sentiment, saying, “At all, like, ever.” Although the camera didn’t pan to Butker for a reaction, the audience can be heard clapping and cheering.

In May, Butker delivered a speech at Benedictine College, a Catholic institution in Atchison, Kansas, where he managed to insult queer people and women. The speech sparked outrage, and a number of Butker’s teammates weighed in. On his podcast with his brother Jason, Travis Kelce described Butker as a “great person” whose views he didn’t agree with.

During the ESPYs, Serena gave a shout-out to “actual royalty,” her friends Meghan Markle and Prince Harry. The couple attended because Prince Harry was the recipient of the Pat Tillman Award for Service for his work on the Invictus Games. Serena also poked fun at others in the sports world, including LeBron James and Caitlin Clark (“You are the Larry Bird in that you are an amazing player, you have ties to Indiana, and white people are really crazy about you,” she joked). It’s good to see that even though Serena isn’t hitting tennis balls at Wimbledon anymore, she’s still willing to serve an ace when needed. Can she host the Golden Globes next?

Serena Williams to Harrison Butker: ‘We Don’t Need You’