During the ESPYs on Thursday night, Serena Williams took a shot at Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker.
It all started with Venus Williams saying, “You can enjoy women’s sports, just like any other sport, because they are sports.” Serena then chimed in, “Except for you, Harrison Butker, we don’t need you.”
This was obviously a jab at Butker’s graduation speech from earlier this year. While at Benedictine College, he made a few controversial remarks.
“I think it is you, the women, who have had the most diabolic lies told to you,” Butker said. “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 started living her vocation as a wife and as a mother.”
On Friday night, Butker responded to Williams’ joke. He claims the 23-time Grand Slam champion squandered an opportunity to unify everyone.
“I thought Mrs. Williams was a great host and applaud her for using her platform to express her beliefs on a variety of topics,” Butker said, via NBC News. “Sports are supposed to be the great unifier and at an event dedicated to celebrating a diverse group of men and women who have accomplished great feats, she used it as an opportunity to disinvite those with whom she disagrees with from supporting fellow athletes.”
Butker’s statement makes it pretty clear that he doesn’t regret what he said earlier this year.
With the NFL season roughly two months away, it won’t be long before Butker is back in the spotlight.
Related: Former NCAA Swimmer Calls Out Serena Williams For Double Standard