Harrison Butker: Serena Williams Chose To 'Disinvite' Those With Whom She Disagrees

Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker responded on Friday to the barb targeted towards him during Thursday night's ESPY Awards.

Tennis legends and sisters Venus and Serena Williams were on stage along with actress and comedian Quinta Brunson, when they went after Butker, a devout Catholic, for his commencement speech at Benedictine College, a Catholic university.

READ: The Full Harrison Butker Commencement Speech That Has The Woke Mob Losing Its Mind: WATCH

Venus Williams started the "bit," saying "Go ahead and enjoy women’s sports like you would any other sports, because they are sports."

"Except you, Harrison Butker," Serena Williams said. "We don’t need you." "At all," Brunson added. "Like, ever."

Turns out, Butker was actually in the audience at the ESPY's, though the camera didn't show him. And on Friday, Butker responded, subtly drawing a comparison between Williams' remarks, and his own.

LAS VEGAS - Harrison Butker of the Kansas City Chiefs speaks to media during Super Bowl LVIII Opening Night at Allegiant Stadium ahead of Super Bowl LVIII on February 5, 2024. (Photo by Robin Alam/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

Harrison Butker Responds To Williams Sisters' Attack

Butker said Serena Williams was a "great host" after expressing her "beliefs" on certain issues when given a platform to do so.

"I thought Mrs. Williams was a great host and applaud her for using her platform to express her beliefs on a variety of topics," Butker said, according to NBC News. "Sports are supposed to be the great unifier and at an event dedicated to celebrating a diverse group of men and women who have accomplished great feats, she used it as an opportunity to disinvite those with whom she disagrees with from supporting fellow athletes."

Butker's statement does highlight the general hypocrisy of much of the sports world and sports media figures. When he expressed his beliefs, which generally reflected much of his Catholic faith, to a Catholic audience, he was heavily criticized for it.

Williams though, chose an event celebrating sports to say that those who share Butker's beliefs aren't welcome. Had the roles been reversed, had Williams or someone who shares her ideology had expressed progressive views on transgender athletes or abortion or any other issue of the day at a university commencement, she'd have been celebrated and cheered. 

Butker though, gets cheers when he's the target of criticism. The difference in treatment couldn't be more stark.