Harrison Butker Faces Backlash for Quoting Taylor Swift in Controversial Speech
Former Kansas City Chiefs star Mitch Schwartz’s wife, Brooke Schwartz, has taken to Instagram to criticize Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker for using Taylor Swift’s lyrics in a commencement speech that she deems sexist and anti-LGBTQ. In the speech delivered to Benedictine College graduates on May 11, Butker referenced Swift through her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, saying, “As my teammate’s girlfriend says, ‘Familiarity breeds contempt.'” However, Brooke Schwartz finds it odd that Butker would quote Swift, given her public views. She shared a screenshot of Swift’s song “You Need to Calm Down” and questioned Butker’s awareness of the singer’s stance.
Brooke Schwartz further expressed her disapproval of Butker’s speech, comparing it to “The Handmaid’s Tale” in her Instagram Story response. She found it disturbing that Butker spoke to female students about being “homemakers” like his own wife, Isabelle Butker. According to Brooke, this sends the wrong message to young women graduating college, suggesting that their most important role is to become homemakers. She firmly believes that it is not a man’s place to dictate women’s roles.
While Butker has not addressed the controversy surrounding his speech, he has faced criticism from notable figures such as Maria Shriver, Hoda Kotb, Jenna Bush Hager, and other celebrities. However, Whoopi Goldberg defended Butker’s comments on “The View,” stating that he is entitled to his beliefs as a staunch Catholic.
Meanwhile, Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift have remained silent about the situation. The couple is currently in Europe for Swift’s Eras Tour and was recently spotted enjoying a dinner date in Lake Como. They have been staying at the luxurious Villa Sola Cabiati for three nights.
