Travis Kelce Distances Himself From Butker’s Controversial Speech—Which Swiped At Taylor Swift

Topline

Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce made his first public comments on his teammate Harrison Butker’s pot-stirring commencement address earlier this month, distancing himself from the traditionalist views espoused by Butker while defending the fellow Chief’s character.

Key Facts

In an episode of his “New Heights” podcast released Friday, Kelce said he doesn’t agree with “just about any” of what Butker shared at his speech at Benedictine College, in which Butker railed against the “diabolical lies” society yells women who emphasize their careers over motherhood, part of a wide-ranging appeal from Butker to the Catholic college graduates to prioritize faith in their daily lives.

Famously dating one of the richest self-made women in the world in billionaire pop star Taylor Swift, Kelce declined to mention specifics of where he disagreed with Butker, who directly alluded to his “teammate’s girlfriend” Swift in the address, quoting one of her songs as part of a critique of clergy.

Kelce defended Butker as “every bit of a great person and a great teammate.”

Jason Kelce, Kelce’s older brother and a recently retired NFL star, similarly said he didn't “align” with Butker’s views, but was more blunt in addressing the situation, quipping after his wife Kylie Kelce expressed her disagreement with Butker’s speech, he joked, “‘Listen, you're going to need to go back in the kitchen and make me a sandwich.’”

Crucial Quote

“As my teammate’s girlfriend says, ‘familiarity breeds contempt,’” Butker said in his speech at Benedictine, quoting Swift’s 2022 songs “Midnights.” Unlike Swift, Butker was not referring to a past flame when using the lyric, but rather criticizing some Catholic priests for letting “their guard down” with their parishioners.

Get Forbes Breaking News Text Alerts:We’re launching text message alerts so you'll always know the biggest stories shaping the day’s headlines. Text “Alerts” to (201) 335-0739 or sign uphere.

Key Background

Butker’s speech, which garnered instant criticism, touched on controversial subjects about women’s role in the workforce, criticizing COVID-19 lockdowns, abortion, President Joe Biden and “degenerate” cultural values broadly. Butker, the Chiefs placekicker since 2017, has been teammates with Kelce since 2017, with the pair helping the team to three Super Bowl victories during the span. Earlier this week, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and head coach Andy Reid offered similar defenses of Butker while distancing themselves from his ideologies, with Mahomes explaining Butker’s values “might not be the same values as I have” but he’s a “great person.”

Surprising Fact

Butker isn’t the only one involved to make a commencement speech at a small Catholic university this month. Kylie Kelce spoke at her alma mater Cabrini University, telling graduates they couldn’t even get a “top five Kelce” for their speaker, following a far more traditional commencement script than Butker, encouraging students to embrace uncertainty in life.

Tangent

The Kelce brothers’ “New Heights” podcast, which surged in popularity amid intense interest in Travis Kelce and Swift’s relationship, is in talks with media companies for an “eight-figure” acquisition, Bloomberg reported in February. The New York Post reported earlier this month that the podcast is in advanced discussions with Amazon about a potential sale.