Harrison Butker and his controversial graduation speech left the football world divided. While some believed the words to be centric on “freedom of speech,” others expressed the opinion to be too conservative and out of touch. Shedding light on the same, Jason Brown and Matt McChesney took to “The Coach JB Show with Big Smitty” and drew an unforeseen comparison with Tyreek Hill and his personal life.
While ‘Cheetah’ is known for his speed and accuracy on the field, time and again, his personal affairs have attracted startling limelight. Similar is the case with the picture uploaded by Keeta Vaccaro on her Instagram handle. Hill’s wife posted an ultrasound with a small heart on it while “Closer” by Goapele was attached to the story. This information did not take time to spread in the NFL world and soon reports of Hill having up to 10 kids made waves.
It was on ‘Million Dollaz Worth of Game’ where the talented football professional was asked about the actual number, to which he subtly responded. Adding to this limelight on the 31-year-old’s life, Jason Brown commented, “Tyreek Hill just had his fifth kid this year.” This was enough cue for Matt McChesney to chime in.
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On the same show, the former American football guard said, “No one give Harrison any shit; be easy like, Harrison is too Catholic. Whatever he said is f*cking nuts like family values and sh*t. I think personally the fact that Harrison doesn’t have like nine or 10 illegitimate children. I think he is a f**king idiot. We are trying to repopulate the Earth around here,” most likely marking his comment around Miami Dolphins wide receiver and his personal life.
This comment from the former Dolphins guard opened the platform for more comments regarding Harrison Butker’s commencement speech. To share his opinion, McChesney added, “He is a devout Catholic, at a super Catholic College, talking to a bunch of other super devout Catholics about being Catholic while being Catholic. “
Hill has a big family which includes his children Zev Carter, born in 2015, twins Nakeem and Nyla in 2019 from his former fiancee Crystal Espinal. Apart from this it is also reported that he is the father of atleast three more children from different women. As for the exact number it is likely to Hill did give a subtle hint around that.
During his appearance on the the ‘Million Dollaz Worth of Game,’ one of the hosts asked Hill, “You play offense but off the field, you’re the all-time leading tackler. You’ve got 10 kids. You’re just a family man!”
In response Hill bowed his head and despite not confirming the figure, he did not reject the 10 children claim. Meanwhile, it was not just Hill that was brought into the conversation by McChesney.
Drawing a comparison to Travis Kelce‘s graduation ceremony, the former professional also remarked, “We live in a party boy culture. If he wants to slam beers, awesome that is his religion if Harrison wants to go the other, that is his religion.” However, the question remains whether Harrison Butker’s comments will cause him any repercussions or not.
The impact of public perception on Harrison Butker’s comments
Butker’s speech, which touched on conservative politics and Catholicism, was met with a standing ovation by some, while others found his remarks out of place and uncomfortable. In his speech Butker addressed the women in attendance and 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.” His words have divided opinions in the NFL world.
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As supporters rallied behind his right to express personal beliefs, his jersey sales spiked. According to reports, the Chiefs kicker’s men’s jersey and T-shirt have ranked among the most popular Chiefs gear on the NFL shop, surpassing players like Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. Additionally, his jersey is third among the best-selling men’s jerseys in the NFL.
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Yet, the outcry from the founders of the college where he spoke, who emphasized their commitment to inclusivity, reflected the polarizing nature of his statements. Meanwhile, the NFL came forth with a comment in which they admitted, “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.”
For athletes like Hill and Butker, their every move, every word, can become a headline, a tweet, a moment of support or backlash, illustrating the profound impact of public perception on their lives and careers.