'We don’t need you': Serena Williams blasts Harrison Butker over 'homemaker' speech at 2024 ESPYs
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Serena Williams was on fire on Thursday at the ESPYs as she shaded the Kansas City Chiefs star Harrison Butker for his controversial comment on women willing to become only homemakers.
Along with Butker, the tennis legend further discussed the pay disparity between male and female athletes while giving a much-deserved shoutout to WNBA sensation Caitlin Clark.
Rapper Drake also got a jab from the 23-time Grand Slam winner regarding his recent feud with Kendrick Lamar.
Harrison Butker shaded by Venus Williams, Serena Williams and Quinta Brunson
As Serena Williams along with her older sister Venus, and the ‘Abbott Elementary’ star Quinta Brunson took the stage on the prestigious 2024 ESPY Awards, they championed the causes of female athletes.
However, while doing so, they invoked the infamous speech by the Kansas City Chiefs kicker, Butker, per People.
Brunson opened the segment, saying, "There are a lot of firsts this year,” before adding, “The Texas Rangers won their first World Series, the Florida Panthers won their first Stanley Cup.”
Serena then picked up, “And, according to sports media, this is the first [year] ever that women played basketball,” referring to the recent rise in popularity of women’s basketball.
As they went on to discuss the “huge year in women’s sports” by offering “tips on how to properly enjoy them,” the trio gushed to the audience, “you can root for Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese.”
As Venus said, “So go ahead and enjoy women’s sports like you would any other sport,” Serena chimed in, “Except you, Harrison Butker, we don’t need you.”
Brunson added as an extra measure, “At all, like, ever.”
Though the camera did not pan at Butker, he was present in the audience and walked the red carpet previously.
In May 2024, Butker courted controversy during his speech at Benedictine College in Hutchinson where he addressed a group of female university students and took digs at the LGBTQ+ community, working women, and abortion rights among others.
While addressing the pressing issues of current society, the Kansas City Chiefs star said, “I would venture to guess that the majority of you are most excited about marriage and the children you will bring to this world.”
Serena Williams praises Caitlin Clark in her speech
As the tennis legend was championing women’s sports, she praised the poster child of women’s basketball Caitlin Clark.
During one of her monologues, Serena said to the Indiana Fever star, “You are the Larry Bird in that you are an amazing player, you have ties to Indiana... and white people are really crazy about you.”
Serena Williams takes digs at Pat McAfee, Drake and Travis Kelce
It was not only Butker who had to bear the brunt of Serena’s shading during the glitzy award show.
After mentioning Butker, the tennis legend also aimed McAfee for calling Clark a “white b*tch” during one of the episodes of his ESPN show.
As Serena, Venus, and Quinta told viewers they could call women participating in sports “athletes, competitor, champion and d*****s,” Serena interjected, “Call them whatever you want... just don't call them the b-word. You know who you are.”
Earlier in the function, Serena also chose to shade Drake regarding his recent feud with Kendrick Lamar, per Daily Mail.
The 42-year-old tennis star joked, “If I've learned anything this year, it's that none of us... not a single one of us, not even me, should ever pick a fight with Kendrick Lamar.”
“He will make your hometown not like you. The next time Drake sits courtside at a Raptors game, they're going to Forrest Gump him,” added the newly retired athlete.
Following her roast of Drake, Serena took up on Travis Kelce.
Saying, “Congratulations to the Kansas City Chiefs,” she added, “This year, Patrick Mahomes and Taylor Swift's boyfriend won a Super Bowl,” while not naming the tightend.
She continued, “Travis and Taylor reportedly spend $100,000 a day on their romance... that's a load of money, that's what I've been told Jaylen Brown spends on his beard.”
Serena further went on to mention the salary disparity as she brought up, “Shohei Ohtani got $16m stolen from him by his translator and didn't even notice.”
“Male athletes get paid so much more than female athletes they don't even notice losing $16m,” added Serena before quipping, “Believe me, I would have noticed.”
