The 2024 ESPY Awards were filled with memorable moments, but one of the most talked-about incidents involved tennis legend Serena Williams and Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker. During the ceremony, Serena, who was hosting the event, took a pointed jab at Butker, referencing his controversial comments made earlier this year.
Serena Williams, alongside her sister Venus Williams and “Abbott Elementary” star Quinta Brunson, delivered a segment on women’s sports that quickly turned spicy. Venus encouraged fans to enjoy women’s sports just like any other sports, to which Serena added, “Except you, Harrison Butker. We don’t need you.” Brunson chimed in with, “At all, like ever.” The audience responded with applause and laughter.
The comment was a direct response to Butker’s commencement speech at Benedictine College in May, where he made several controversial remarks. Butker, an outspoken Catholic, criticized Pride Month, abortion, and what he described as the “cultural emasculation of men.” He suggested that women find more fulfillment in marriage and motherhood than in pursuing careers, a stance that drew significant backlash.
Butker’s speech included statements like, “For the ladies present today, congratulations on an amazing accomplishment. 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.” He went on to say, “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.”
The NFL distanced itself from Butker’s views, stating that his opinions do not reflect those of the organization. Despite the controversy, Butker attended the ESPYs, where his teammate Patrick Mahomes was honored with the Best NFL Player and Best Athlete in Men’s Sports awards.
The ESPYs, held at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, featured a mix of emotional and inspiring moments. Dawn Staley and Nick Saban delivered stirring speeches, and Prince Harry dedicated his Pat Tillman Award to the veterans behind the Invictus Games. The most emotional moment came from Steve Gleason, the former NFL safety diagnosed with ALS in 2011, who received the Arthur Ashe Courage Award. Gleason, who was told he only had a few years to live, took the stage with his son and received a standing ovation, with a tear visibly running down his cheek as he began his speech.
However, the show ended on a less graceful note. Around 11:30 p.m. ET, some viewers reported that the broadcast abruptly cut off, jumping from a segment on the Maui surfing community to a speech about Prince Harry, both of which had already aired. The telecast then ended with a montage, despite the Best Team award still waiting to be revealed. The abrupt ending was reportedly due to a late start caused by ABC’s coverage of President Joe Biden’s news conference.
The full list of ESPY winners included:
– Best Athlete, Men’s Sports: Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
– Best Athlete, Women’s Sports: A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces
– Best Team: South Carolina women’s basketball
– Best College Athlete, Men’s Sports: Jayden Daniels, LSU football
– Best College Athlete, Women’s Sports: Caitlin Clark, Iowa basketball
– Best Breakthrough Athlete: Juju Watkins, USC women’s basketball
– Best Comeback Athlete: Simone Biles, gymnast
– Best Record-Breaking Performance: Caitlin Clark breaking NCAA scoring record, Iowa
– Best Championship Performance: Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics
– Best Play: Lamar Jackson’s AFC championship self-catch, Baltimore Ravens
– Best NFL Player: Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
– Best MLB Player: Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Angels/Los Angeles Dodgers
– Best NHL Player: Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers
– Best WNBA Player: A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces
– Best NBA Player: Luka Dončić, Dallas Mavericks
– Best Driver: Max Verstappen, Red Bull
– Best Golfer: Scottie Scheffler
– Best Athlete with a Disability: Brenna Huckaby, snowboarder
– Sports Humanitarian Team of the Year: Angel City
– Arthur Ashe Award for Courage: Steve Gleason
– Jimmy V Award for Perseverance: Dawn Staley
– Icon Award: Nick Saban
– Pat Tillman Award for Service: Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex
– Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award: Maui surfing community
Despite the technical glitches and abrupt ending, the 2024 ESPYs delivered a night of celebration, controversy, and heartfelt moments, with Serena Williams’ jab at Harrison Butker being one of the most talked-about highlights.
Source: Yahoo Sports, The US Sun, CNN
