The Kansas City Chiefs have been one of the most talked-about teams in the NFL this offseason. Of course, that is to be expected for the defending back-to-back Super Bowl Champions. However, much of the news surrounding the team has been far from positive.
Wide receiver Rashee Rice was involved in a high-speed car accident that resulted in several injuries and civil lawsuits filed against the second-year pro. To make the situation worse, he also left the scene of the accident before authorities arrived.
Former defensive tackle Isaiah Buggs was arrested twice. The first for animal abandonment at one of his properties and the second for domestic abuse. He was released following his second arrest.
And then there was kicker Harrison Butker.
Kansas City Chiefs Kicker Harrison Butker’s Controversial Commencement Speech
As fans are well aware, Butker made waves back in May with his controversial commencement speech at Benedictine College, a private Catholic establishment. During his speech, he expressed his heartfelt beliefs that many found to be troubling.
Among the groups that were offended by Butker’s speech were Jews, the LGBTQ+ community, other Catholics, and women.
It was his comments directed at women, specifically, that garnered the most uproar:
“For the ladies present today, congratulations on an amazing accomplishment. You should be proud of all that you have achieved to this point in your young lives. I want to speak directly to you briefly because I think it is you, the women, who have had the most diabolical lies told to you.
“How many of you are sitting here now about to cross this stage and are thinking about all the promotions and titles you are going to get in your career?
“Some of you may go on to lead successful careers in the world, but I would venture to guess that the majority of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into this world.”
Butker’s comments generated a great deal of criticism on social media and on television. A devout follower of the Traditional Latin Mass (TLM), the Chiefs’ kicker did not mind the things that were said about him. In fact, he embraced the harsh words that were sent his way.
Kansas City Chiefs Kicker Quoted Winston Churchill on Social Media on Monday
Butker recently signed a contract extension with Kansas City that made him the highest-paid kicker in the NFL. This transaction, too, brought a great deal of criticism from NFL fans that have not forgotten what he said during his commencement speech.
On Monday, Butker sent a message to his dissenters with the following social media post:
“You have enemies? Good. That means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life.”
– Sir Winston Churchill pic.twitter.com/OjVtW9kzNw
— Harrison Butker (@buttkicker7) August 19, 2024
The message that the Chiefs’ kicker is sending it quite clear: he believes that the only reason he is disliked is because he is right.
And he is well within his rights to believe that. The problem, though, is that Winston Churchill never said the quote Butker attributed to him.
Kansas City Chiefs Kicker Harrison Butker Failed to Do His Research on the Fake Winston Churchill Quote
According to PolitiFact, the quote that Butker attributed to the former British Prime Minister was never uttered by Churchill. Instead, it is based on an essay written by French writer Victor Hugo.
In “Villemain,” Hugo wrote,
“You have enemies? Why, it is the story of every man who has done a great deed or created a new idea. It is the cloud which thunders around everything that shines. Fame must have enemies, as light must have gnats. Do not bother yourself about it; disdain. Keep your mind serene as you keep your life clear.”
Fans were quick to correct Butker’s attribution of the quote to Churchill:
Fun fact, Winston Churchill never said this and you’re an absolute moron who can’t use a simple google search https://t.co/XYU9rOCum2 pic.twitter.com/aC0Ujg3Vy0
— Ryan (@prodiscplayer) August 19, 2024
Not to be pedantic, but this is Victor Hugo, not Churchill.
— Benjamin Allbright (@AllbrightNFL) August 19, 2024
Yea, Winston Churchill never said this. Victor Hugo, born 1802 in France uttered the words. He was also a liberal, far-rights mortal nemesis.
— Tony ✭ (@TweetsOfTonyG) August 19, 2024
From CN:
The quote attributed to Churchill on having enemies originally came from Victor Hugo.https://t.co/CpWRTZ1Nn7https://t.co/sAUNhSGUTy— 🇨🇦 José-Luis Pino 🇨🇦 (@Jose1Pino) August 19, 2024
It will be interesting to see if Butker acknowledges that he got the quote wrong.
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