NFL condemns Harrison Butker’s controversial speech against 'degenerate cultural values'

The NFL has spoken out against Harrison Butker after the Kansas City Chiefs player's controversial commencement address.The 28-year-old kicker delivered a 20-minute speech at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, on Saturday (May 11).During the graduation ceremony at the Catholic private liberal arts school, Butker told graduates that "poor leadership has negatively impacted major life issues".He also took aim at the LGBTQ+ community, working women, surrogacy, abortion rights, and more, drawing heavy criticism on social media.Watch Butker's speech below:Butker, who has made his Catholic beliefs well known, began his address by mentioning that graduates started college at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, but said that "while Covid might have played a large role throughout your formative years, it is not unique" before slamming “dangerous gender ideologies”."Things like abortion, IVF, surrogacy, euthanasia, as well as a growing support for degenerative cultural values in media all stem from the pervasiveness of disorder," he told the audience.The Georgia Tech alum denounced President Joe Biden’s policies, including his response to Covid-19, and criticized an article by the Associated Press highlighting a shift toward conservativism in some parts of the Catholic Church.The NFL has condemned Harrison Butker's speech. Credit: Perry Knotts / GettyThe NFL condemned the athlete's speech, saying that his views differed from those of the organization.“Harrison Butker gave a speech in his personal capacity,” Jonathan Beane, the NFL’s senior vice president and chief diversity and inclusion officer said in a statement issued to PEOPLE.“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," he added.Featured image credit: Perry Knotts / Getty