Maria Shriver Slams Harrison Butker For 'Demeaning Women' In His Speech

Former First Lady of California Maria Shriver is speaking up for women everywhere as she slams NFL kicker Harrison Butker for his "demeaning" speech.

As The Blast reported, the Kansas City Chiefs star spoke at Benedictine College's graduation ceremony, where he seemingly hinted that women should continue their roles as they did in the 1950s, with the ladies staying home and being "homemakers" and the men "be unapologetic in heir masculinity.'

Harrison Butker's Speech Stirs Controversy

"We set the tone of the culture, and when that is absent, disorder, dysfunction, and chaos set in," Butker said in his lengthy graduation speech last week. "This absence of men in the home is what plays a large role in the violence we see all around the nation. Other countries do not have nearly the same absentee father rates as we find here in the U.S., and a correlation could be made in their drastically lower violence rates as well."

He also told the women in the audience that they "have had the most diabolical lies told to" them and "ventured to guess that the majority of [the women] are most excited about [their] marriage and the children [they] will bring into this world."

After social media caught wind of the speech, it went viral, with many public figures, including Former First Lady of California Maria Shriver, speaking out against Butker.

Maria Shriver Comments On Harrison Butker's Speech

"What point was Harrison Butker really trying to make to women in his graduation speech about their present-day life choices? Did he really want them, aka us, to believe that our lives truly only begin when we lean into the vocation of wife and mother? I read that a couple of times over, [and] then I went to listen to it to make sure I heard it correctly. I DID," Shriver began in her lengthy statement posted on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

"He went on speaking to the men in the audience. 'Gentlemen,' he said, 'We set the tone of the culture, and when that is absent, disorder, dysfunction, and chaos set in," she continued. "This absence of men in the home is what plays a large role in the violence we see all around the nation."

In addition to talking about gender roles, Butker also mentioned the LGBTQ+ community, calling their pride "deadly sins."

Harrison Butker Takes A 'Swipe At The LGBTQ Community'

"Well, well, well. By the way, he also took a swipe at the LGBTQ community. Look, everyone has the right to free speech in our country. That's the benefit of living in a democracy. But those of us who are women and who have a voice have the right to disagree with Butker," the Former First Lady of California added.

"As a woman who has leaned into my vocation of living a meaningful life and working inside and outside the home to not only raise good humans but also raise up our country in various ways, I think it's demeaning to women to imply that their choices outside of wife and motherhood pale in comparison to that of homemaker," Shriver went on to say in her statement.

Maria Shriver Stands Up For Women Following Harrison Butker's Speech

"It took a revolution to get women the right to vote, to get women birth control pills, to get women to be able to put their names on a checking account, to get them maternity leave, to get them anything close to pay equity, to get elected to office, to get them where they are today! Oh my god, don't get me going, as there is so much more!"

"I'm happy for Mr. Butker's wife, Isabelle, that she's happy in her chosen vocation. Good for her. But she should let her husband know that not all women can make that choice, even if they wanted to," she continued. "Most families can't get by without both parents working. It's a luxury to get the choice she has gotten. The vast majority of women have to put food on the table, while also raising kids, caring for aging parents, running companies, volunteering in their local communities, running for office to give us a better world.. the list goes on!"

Are Men The Ones Who 'Set The Tone For The Culture?'

"And men, well, are they really the ones who set the tone for the culture? Can we all not set the tone for the future?" Shriver added. "Women, men, gay, straight -- of course we can! I will not tell Mr. Butker to stick to kicking, but I would suggest next time he speaks to women first and listen to someone with a clearer take on where most women find themseves in 2024."

Harrison Butker's full speech can be heard here.