Chiefs owner's wife speaks on 'motherhood' amid Harrison Butker controversy: 'Not bigoted'

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (TND) Tavia Hunt, the wife of the owner of the Kansas City Chiefs, spoke out on motherhood Thursday amid one of the team's players facing criticism for recent comments directed toward female college graduates.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (TND) — Tavia Hunt, the wife of the owner of the Kansas City Chiefs, spoke out on motherhood Thursday amid one of the team's players facing criticism for recent comments directed toward female college graduates.

Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker has drawn widespread attention after delivering a commencement address at Catholic liberal arts school Benedictine College over the weekend. In the controversial speech, the NFL player criticized President Joe Biden's policies and encouraged women to embrace becoming a "homemaker."

"Some of you may go on to lead successful careers in the world,” Butker said of female graduates. “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 has drawn intense backlash for the remarks, prompting Jonathan Beane, the NFL's senior vice president and chief diversity and inclusion officer, to assert the player's views "are not those of the NFL as an organization." However, Hunt joined the chorus of reactions Thursday by expressing her thoughts on motherhood and marriage.

READ MORE | Chiefs kicker punts Biden over 'delusional' abortion policy during graduation speech

"I’ve always encouraged my daughters to be highly educated and chase their dreams," Hunt wrote on Instagram. "Studies show that committed, married couples with children are the happiest demographic, and this has been my experience as well."

"Affirming motherhood and praising your wife, as well as highlighting the sacrifice and dedication it takes to be a mother, is not bigoted," she continued. "It is empowering to acknowledge that a woman’s hard work in raising children is not in vain ... Someone disagreeing with you doesn’t make them hateful; it simply means they have a different opinion."

While Hunt never mentioned Butker by name, she went on to "caution against taking things out of context," noting "sound bites overlaid with hateful comments are not what we want to model for our children or others."

Neither Clark Hunt, the owner of the Chiefs, nor any current Chiefs players have spoken publicly about Butker's speech yet. However, Kansas City's official X account took a jab at the kicker Wednesday by posting "a reminder that Harrison Butker lives in the City of Lee's Summit." The account later deleted the post and apologized for it, saying it was "shared in error."

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey announced Friday he has opened an investigation into the post, claiming the city account retaliated against Butker for his "deeply held religious beliefs."

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