LOS ANGELES – ESPYS host Serena Williams poked fun at multiple celebrities on stage at the Dolby Theatre on Thursday night. But perhaps her most memorable dig was at Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker.
The moment came when Williams, her older sister Venus and actress Quinta Brunson were on stage talking about women’s sports.
“So go ahead and enjoy women’s sports like you enjoy other sports, because they are sports,” Venus said.
Then Serena quickly replied, “Except you, Harrison Butker. We don’t need you.”
Butker was seen on the red carpet at the ESPY Awards on Thursday night.
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Serena responded with her verbal attack to controversial comments Butker made earlier this year during a Benedictine College graduation speech about women.
“To the ladies here today, congratulations on a great accomplishment. You should be proud of all that you have accomplished in your young lives so far. I want to speak to you briefly, directly, because I think you, the women, have been told the most diabolical lies,” Butker told the graduates. “How many of you are sitting here right now about to walk onto this stage and thinking about all the promotions and titles that you are going to receive in your careers? Some of you may have successful careers in the world, but I would wager that most of you are most excited about your marriages and the children that you are going to bring into the world.”
Butker received widespread criticism after parts of his speech went viral.