ESPN’s Sam Ponder Unleashes Shocking Statement In Response To All The Harrison Butker Backlash

Photo of Sam Ponder speaking and photo of Harrison Butker smilingSam Ponder and Harrison Butker (Photo via Getty Images)
Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker has received support from an unlikely source following his recent controversial comments.

The three-time Super Bowl winner gave a speech at Benedictine College’s commencement ceremony in Kansas earlier this week and has endured rife backlash over his urging women to embrace their roles as homemakers.

He has also received plenty of praise, with several high-profile personalities speaking up in his defense. ESPN host Sam Ponder is among the latter, as she has branded the petition to get him cut from the Chiefs “unamerican.”

“I think the petition that he should be fired from the Chiefs is totally unamerican,” she said via social media. “Is a Catholic espousing traditionally Catholic views to a Catholic audience really that shocking?! Why can’t we just respectfully disagree?!” 

Ponder added that she agreed with several points the kicker made, especially about women being more excited about their families than what they do for a living.

“Personally I agreed with a few things he said…especially that most women are more excited/proud of their families than their day jobs,” she continued. “I love my job and have worked my butt off (and slept in my car) to get here but it’s not even comparable to how I feel about being a mom! ESPN will not be with me on my death bed. When did that become offensive?”

Sam Ponder Didn’t Agree With Everything Harrison Butker Said

Ponder also shared her thoughts on the parts she didn’t agree with, more so the one about women needing husbands to feel fulfilled.

“I disagreed with a few things he said too. I do not think my life ‘began’ when I became a wife and mom. I think you can live a totally fulfilled and purposeful life as a single woman in the workplace! Frankly I think I could have had an equally meaningful life if I never got married/became a mother. I’m so proud to be an American where he can share his beliefs openly.”

While the petition to release Harrison Butker is gaining serious traction online, the Chiefs are unlikely to do so, given how good he is at what he does.

They probably wouldn’t cut him on the strength of just that in any case.