KC Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker has been one of the most polarising NFL players of late thanks to his controversial commencement speech at Benedictine College. But the controversy has turned into a blessing in disguise for the kicker as his jerseys are now amongst the most popular in the league, even surpassing his teammates Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce.
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The jersey sales began shooting up when elements of Butker’s speech resonated with a certain section of people. Butker, in his speech, asked men to respect their masculinity while also preaching to young women the joys of being a homemaker. He also called the pride of the LGBTQ+ community, ‘a deadly sin’.
While one section of the internet tried getting the kicker sacked from the team by filing an online petition; the other section did the opposite. The latter hence bombarded the Kansas City Chiefs’ website and have made Harrison Butker’s jersey amongst the top sellers in the league.
It’s extremely rare for football fans to buy a $129.9 jersey of a kicker. Not only are people buying Butker’s jersey, they are doing it in massive numbers.
Harrison Butker’s outright far-right statements made him an instant celebrity in that circle. And that has got his newfound fans buying his jersey in droves. However, despite the overwhelming support from the conservatives, only one KC Chiefs player has come in Butker’s support.
Harrison Butker Gets an Endorsement From Chris Jones
Butker’s teammate Chris Jones has been the only KC Chiefs player to have openly expressed his support for the kicker. Amidst thousands of signatures in agreement with an online petition demanding the Chiefs sack Butker, Jones stood up for his teammate. with a resounding endorsement as he said, “I love you @buttkicker7! My brotha,” on “X”.
I love you @buttkicker7! My brotha https://t.co/sV48gXePHL
— Chris Jones (@StoneColdJones) May 17, 2024
Another prominent persona to not bash Butker’s statements is comedian Whoopi Goldberg, who had a very neutral stance. The popular comic doubled down on the freedom of speech argument that many have been using for Butker. Goldberg argued that for everyone who fought for Colin Kaepernick’s freedom of speech, not supporting Butker for the same would be hypocrisy.
Granted the context and statements by both are worlds apart, yet Whoopi emphasised that fundamental protection of freedom of speech is what matters. Our agreement with the respective statements is secondary.
