Katy Perry has shared an edited version of Harrison Butker's controversial graduation speech in honor of Pride Month.
The singer, 39, took to Instagram on June 1, the first day of Pride Month, to reveal the changes she made to Butker's 2024 commencement speech at Benedictine College, a Catholic school in Kansas. Taking the school stage last month, the Kansas City Chiefs kicker launched multiple attacks on LGBT+ Pride Month, criticized President Joe Biden for his faith and suggested women should focus on motherhood instead of their careers.
In the new edited speech, posted by Perry, Butker began by celebrating the “ladies” in the audience who were graduating from college, noting that “they should be proud of all that.” [they] We have achieved this point in [their] young lives.”
While the video continued with lines from Butker's speech, his comments were heavily edited to change the moment he said them, which ultimately changed the meaning of his comments. For example, instead of including her initial comments about why women should be “housewives,” her new speech had him describing all the success women could achieve in their careers.
“How many of you are sitting here now, about to cross this stage, and are thinking about all the promotions and titles you will get in your career?” he continued in the edited version of the speech. “I would venture to guess that women here today will have successful careers in the world.”
The edited speech also changed Butker's claims that women should not pursue careers, as she originally claimed that they would feel successful in their lives when they became a “wife and mother.”
“I tell you all this because I have seen it firsthand, how much happier someone can be supporting women and not to mention that most of you are more excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into this world,” she continued. in altered speech.
Perry's video concluded with Butker celebrating diversity in America and recognizing Pride Month.
“The road ahead is bright, things are changing, society is changing and people, young and old, are embracing diversity, equity and inclusion,” he said. “With that said, I want to wish everyone a happy Pride Month. And congratulations Class of 2024.”
The “Dark Horse” singer went on to describe why she made the changes to Butker's speech in the caption. “I fixed this for my daughters, my grads, and my gays: You can do anything, congratulations and happy pride,” she wrote.
In her original commencement speech last month, Butker attacked what she called “dangerous gender ideologies” in an apparent reference to Pride month, which has been celebrated in June since the Stonewall riots in 1969. She said the annual celebration was a example of “mortal sins.” He also criticized an Associated Press article highlighting a turn toward conservatism in some parts of the Catholic Church.
In addition to encouraging women to be “homemakers,” she also had a message for the men in the crowd; “don't regret your masculinity” and “fight against the cultural castration of men.” She later quoted Taylor Swift, saying, “As my teammate's girlfriend says, 'familiarity breeds contempt,'” although she didn't realize that Swift pulled the line from a common phrase.
After receiving immense backlash for his comments, Butker recently doubled down on controversial views in his speech. He addressed the criticism while attending a May 24 gala presented by the Regina Caeli Academy, a Catholic homeschooling organization.
“The theme for tonight's gala, Courage Under Fire, was decided many months ago, but it now seems providential that this is the theme after what we have all witnessed these past two weeks,” Butker said. “If it wasn't clear that many hate eternal Catholic values, it is now.”
He also reiterated that his thoughts in his speech came from his religious beliefs. “Our love for Jesus, and therefore our desire to speak, must never be overcome by the longing of our fallen nature to be loved by the world,” Butker said. “Glorifying God and not ourselves should always be our motivation despite any rejection or even support. I rely on the people closest to me for guidance, but I can never forget that it is not people, but Jesus Christ who I am trying to please.”
