Rich Eisen and Suzy Shuster denounce Harrison Butker’s ‘scandalous’ speech

Count Rich Eisen among the voices in the sports media speaking out against Harrison Butker’s controversial claims he made last week at a private college in Kansas.

Lisa Guerrero and NFL Network Jamie Erdahl targeted Butker on social media. But Eisen took a different approach. He and his wife, Suzy Shuster, who attended The Rich Eisen Show On Thursday, both responded to the Kansas City Chiefs kicker’s comments.

“To the ladies present today: congratulations on a great achievement. You should be proud of everything you have accomplished at this point in your young life. I want to speak directly to you briefly because I think you, the women, have heard the most devilish lies against you.

“How many of you are sitting here right now, about to cross this stage, and thinking about all the promotions and titles you’re going to achieve in your career? Some of you may have successful careers in the world, but I would hazard a guess that the majority of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into this world.

“I can tell you that my beautiful wife Isabelle would be the first to say that her life truly began when she began living her calling as a wife and mother. I stand on this stage and can be the man I am because I have a wife who leans into her calling… It cannot be overstated that all my success is made possible by a girl I had in my class in high school met, convert to faith, become my wife and embrace one of the most important tiles of all: housewife.

“You’re great at so many things,” Eisen told Shuster. “But seriously, you’re good at so many things. And the idea that someone like you could be sitting at a commencement ceremony, or that our daughter could be sitting there, and someone would stand up and say something like that to someone like you or your daughter.

“It’s just outrageous. It’s downright scandalous. And I know you’ve had fun with it throughout the program, but for those who are basically saying, “He has the right to say…” Of course he has the right to say whatever he wants to say.

“And that may be his belief system, but to say that people who are about to receive their degrees are being devilishly lied to because they are being told that a title that awaits them through their hard work is not that rewarding like sitting at home and being a mother, or a housewife. And you have many moments that you cherish as a mother, but you are also a professional.

“And you’re the best multitasker I know. And the way you support our family – I can’t believe I’m making a testimony of this right now – but it’s true. The way you keep our family afloat and hold your own as a professional, as our children fondly remember, you are the only one in the family to have received an Emmy award.

“It’s just a shame.”

Rich and Suzy Reply to the comments of #Chiefs kicker #HarrisonButker during a commencement address Saturday at Benedictine College, which included his thoughts on women, diversity and masculinity. pic.twitter.com/mY8jRT1DzS

— Rich Eisen Show (@RichEisenShow) May 16, 2024

“No. 1, I am lucky because I have a partner…We have someone who helps me achieve my ambitions in life. But also my heart ached for the girls sitting there because they have so much potential ahead of them and they can do whatever they want to do,” Shuster said. “And I have such good friends who chose to focus their lives on homemaking – and I’m happy for them because I wouldn’t begrudge anyone of their choice to be a housewife to become a mother, to go to work, to do whatever.

“But I just don’t know why people should try to put people in their place. Just let people live – and encourage them. That was the thing that took me away the most, other than the fact that his mother is a brilliant scientist, so she did both.”

With their nuanced and candid discussion, Rich and Suzy highlighted the limitations of Butker’s perspective. They emphasized the importance of individual choices and finding fulfillment in all aspects of life. Therefore The Rich Eisen Show has its rightful place as one of the better daily programs in sports media.

(The Rich Eisen Show on X)