Media Outlets Obsessing Over Chiefs’ Harrison Butker Seem To Ignore NFL Kicker Accused Of Sexual Assault
Earlier this month, we compared how the outrage machine responded to Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker's faith-based commencement address to the slew of NFL players who have been charged and/or accused of crimes such as domestic violence, sexual assault, and battery.
We explained how the predominately left-leaning media treats supposed thought crimes far more seriously than violent crimes.
Mediaite founder Dan Abrams elaborated on that premise Wednesday on NewsNation, regarding the lack of coverage surrounding Washington Commanders kicker Brandon McManus — whom two women are suing for sexual assault.
For background, two female flight attendants for a charter flight to London accuse McManus of rubbing himself against them and grinding against them.
They also accuse the Jaguars, the team for which McManus played last year, of failing to supervise McManus and failing to create a safe environment for staff serving the team.
"But is anyone on cable even talking about this?" Abrams said about the civil lawsuit filed against McManus.
"It seems not. An analysis of recent coverage on the major cable networks shows that within the two-and-a-half weeks since Butker gave that speech, he’s been mentioned more than seven dozen times. It would appear McManus has not been mentioned once."
"Within a week of his commencement address, parts of Butker’s speech are being played and replayed on every major channel," Abrams continued. "Crickets for the allegations against McManus in the week since news of the lawsuit against him broke."
Credit to Abrams. He's right.
Look at what's happening in Butker's own locker room.
His teammate Rashee Rice is facing eight felony charges concerning a hit-and-run accident while drag-racing his Lamborghini at 119 mph on a Dallas highway, where he crashed into a woman and her young child.
Isaiah Buggs, another Chiefs teammate, is the subject of two animal cruelty warrants. Another one of Butker's teammates, Charles Omenihu, was arrested last year for allegedly shoving his girlfriend to the ground.
Yet only Butker's comments are the subject of mass outrage.
What's happening here is a symptom of an overly partisan press.
Trashing Butker is politically convenient. Outlets have labeled him some of their favorite terms: sexist, antisemitic, racist, and MAGA.
Of course, it's harder to score political points by feigning outrage over sexual assault and violent crime allegations/convictions. Thus, the disparity in coverage.
The NFL has a crime epidemic inside its locker rooms.
The list of arrests just over the past 12 months is extensive. And very little is made about the most popular sports league in the country continuing to give convicted criminals millions of dollars to play football.
Ultimately, the press is unlikely to amplify any story that does not support a pre-approved narrative, the press is unlikely to care.
"Maybe — just maybe — to many in the left-leaning media, there’s no greater outrage than going after a liberal narrative," Abrams added.
"While on the right, there’s nothing more worthy of endless hours of praise or bashing the left-leaning media. But allegations of sexual assault? Doesn’t fit easily into the political narrative. I don’t know, maybe it’s not even worth discussing."
The NFL has far greater concerns than some kicker spreading his faith during a graduation ceremony at a Catholic college.
We appreciate Abrams acknowledging that.