Serena Williams arrives for the 32nd annual ceremony of the ESPY Awards at the Dolby Theatre.
LOS ANGELES – ESPYS host Serena Williams poked fun at multiple celebrities while on stage at the Dolby Theatre Thursday night. But perhaps her most memorable jab was directed at Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker.
The moment happened when Williams, her older sister Venus, and actress Quinta Brunson were on stage discussing women’s sports.
“So, go ahead and enjoy women’s sports like you would any other sports, because they are sports,” Venus said.
Then Serena quickly replied: “Except you, Harrison Butker. We don’t need you.”
"So, go ahead and enjoy women's sports like you would any other sports, because they are sports." – Venus Williams
"Except you, Harrison Butker. We don't need you." – Serena Williams
"At all. Like, ever." – Quinta Brunson #ESPYS pic.twitter.com/RhvxfiHUWN
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) July 12, 2024
Butker was seen on the red carpet at the ESPY Awards Thursday night.
Serena’s verbal jab came in response to Butker’s controversial comments about women he made at a commencement speech at Benedictine College earlier this year.
“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,” Butker said to the graduates. “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 received widespread backlash after portions of his commencement speech went viral.
