Harrison Butker was not feeling the love at the 2024 ESPY Awards . The 28-year-old Kansas City Chiefs kicker, who made a name for himself due to some controversial comments about women during a Benedictine College commencement speech earlier this year, became the butt of the joke on Thursday night. The award show's host, Serena Williams , took to the stage with her sister, tennis pro Venus Williams , and Abbott Elementary creator and star, Quinta Brunson .
The trio of women urged fans to enjoy women's sports the same as any other, with Venus saying, "So go ahead and enjoy women's sports like you would any other sports, because they are sports." Serena cut in, noting , "Except you, Harrison Butker, we don't need you." "At all, like, ever," Brunson confirmed.
The crowd was filled with gasps and a few boos as well as loud cheers at the comment. Butker, for his part, was in the audience, but the cameras did not pan to him for a reaction. The kicker attended the annual awards ceremony solo without his wife, Isabelle.
He flashed a big smile and his Super Bowl ring on the red carpet while wearing a white tuxedo jacket and stripped pants. His teammate, Patrick Mahomes , went home with the Best Athlete in Men's Sports title as well as the Best NFL Player award. Mahomes previously defended Butker following his controversial comments.
"I know Harrison. I've known him for seven years, and I judge him by the character that he shows every single day, and that's a good person," Mahomes said.
