Harrison Butker’s Kansas City Chiefs jersey is among the ‘most popular’ on the NFL’s official store, despite ongoing backlash against his recent controversial speech at a college graduation ceremony.
The three-time Super Bowl winner gave the commencement speech at Kansas’ Benedictine College, a private Catholic liberal arts school, on Saturday.
He congratulated the women receiving degrees and said most of them were probably more excited about getting married and having children. He also said some Catholic leaders were ‘pushing dangerous gender ideologies onto the youth of America.’
Butker, whose own mother is an accomplished physicist, also criticized Pride month and President Joe Biden’s stance on abortion.
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The controversial speech has attracted fierce backlash but it seems Butker still has plenty of fans on his side after his Chiefs jersey appeared to be among the most wanted merchandise on NFL.com.
He currently wears No. 7 for the Chiefs and his jersey boasted the tab ‘most popular in jerseys’, alongside Patrick Mahomes, Saquon Barkley and Christian McCaffrey’s replicas.
In a statement on Thursday, Jonathan Beane – the NFL’s senior vice president and chief diversity and inclusion officer – said: ‘Harrison Butker gave a speech in his personal capacity.
‘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.’
Butker delivered his roughly 20-minute address at the Catholic private liberal arts school in Atchison, Kansas, which is located about 60 miles (97 kilometers) miles north of Kansas City.
He received a standing ovation from some graduates and other attendees.
