Kansas City Chiefs player Harrison Butker has hit back at Serena Williams after her comments during the 2024 ESPY Awards earlier this week.

The tennis legend was the host of the awards and she was on stage with her sister, Venus Williams and comedian Quinta Brunson, and she sharply criticized Chiefs football player Harrison Butker for comments he made during his commencement speech at Benedictine College a couple of months ago.

Lewis Hamilton, Williams sisters, Angel Reese among the sports stars at the Met GalaLAPRESSE

He said: “I know many of you are excited about the careers ahead of you, but I venture to say that most of you are much more excited about your marriages and the children you are bringing into the world […] As men we set the pace for our culture and we don’t have to apologise for our masculinity.”

Serena and Venus don’t hold back

The Williams’ presented one of the awards dedicated to women’s sport and Venus commented: “Enjoy women’s sport, it’s sport too” to which her sister remarked: “Everyone but you Harrison Butker; we women don’t need you”; and Brunson closed by saying: “Absolutely not, we never have.”

In a clapback statement released the following day, he responded: “I thought Mrs. Williams was a great host and applaud her for using her platform to express her beliefs on a variety of topics.” However, he didn’t stop there.

Butker added: “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.”