Harrison Butker triggers backlash from left for commencement speech: ‘Being treated like a criminal’Harrison Butker triggers backlash from left for commencement speech: ‘Being treated like a criminal’, Chiefs kicker compared to religious ‘extremist’ by ‘View’ co-host after touting Christian values

OutKick host Charly Arnolt argued Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker has been “treated like a criminal”. He didn’t do anything that was criminally wrong or criminally inappropriate,” the host of “OutKick the Morning” told Todd Piro during “Fox & Friends First” on Friday.

“Look at his teammate Rashee Rice facing eight charges right now for a car accident he was responsible for. Is anyone calling for him to lose his position on the team? Absolutely not, so this just shows when you have conservative values, and you speak those out loud, here’s what happens.”

Butker received both praise and backlash after criticizing Biden and abortion, while also encouraging women to embrace their roles as “homemakers” while speaking to students at Benedictine College. “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,” the Super Bowl champion said. “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.

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 her life truly started when she began living her vocation as a wife and as a mother. I’m on this stage today and able to be the man that 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.”

The NFL released a statement on Thursday distancing itself from Butker, saying the kicker spoke from a “personal capacity” during the commencement address. “Harrison Butker gave a speech in his personal capacity,” Jonathan Beane, the NFL’s senior vice president and chief diversity and inclusion officer, said in a statement sent to People magazine. “His views are not those of the NFL as an organization. The NFL is steadfast in our commitment to inclusion, which only makes our league stronger.”

The media has been quick to criticize the NFL star for his controversial remarks, with the co-hosts of “The View” tearing into Butker for his religious beliefs and recommending he go to therapy. “I would really encourage him, really encourage him to find the best parts of faith and not diverge into extremist beliefs,” Sara Haines, “The View” co-host said on Thursday.

Butker’s comments triggered a Change.org petition, signed by more than 180,000 people, demanding he be released by the Chiefs. Gracie Hunt, daughter of Chiefs owner Clark Hunt, told “Fox & Friends” on Friday that she understood Butker’s stance. “I can only speak from my own experience, which is I’ve had the most incredible mom, who had the ability to stay home and be with us as kids growing up. And I understand that there are many women out there who can’t make that decision. But for me and my life, I know it was really formative and in shaping me and my siblings into who we are,” she said.