Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker has not been invited to the wedding of Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift, according to an NFL source. The ceremony is reportedly taking place at Madison Square Garden, with street closures around the venue indicating a high-profile event.
Butker, a teammate of Kelce's since 2017, is believed to be the only member of the Chiefs roster excluded from the guest list, which is expected to include approximately 1,000 attendees from the entertainment and sports industries.
This reported exclusion comes more than two years after Butker delivered a commencement speech at Benedictine College in Kansas City. In that speech, he suggested that women should prioritize being homemakers over pursuing careers and appeared to criticize President Joe Biden's stance on abortion and the LGBTQ+ community. The speech generated significant backlash, including a petition signed by over 260,000 people calling for his dismissal from the Chiefs.
Despite disagreeing with many of Butker's views, Travis Kelce publicly defended his teammate in May 2024 on their podcast, "New Heights." Kelce stated that while he did not agree with most of Butker's opinions, he did not believe in judging him for his religious views or personal outlook on life. Kelce drew parallels to his own upbringing, where both parents contributed to the household, emphasizing the importance of family while acknowledging that not everyone follows the same path.
Jason Kelce, Travis's brother, also addressed Butker's speech, stating that while he did not align with the kicker's viewpoints, he valued the emphasis on family and motherhood. He noted that it is common for teammates to have differing opinions and that collaboration is key in a team environment.
At the time of the 2024 speech, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and head coach Andy Reid also defended Butker. Mahomes described him as a good person who cares about others and aims to make a positive impact. Reid emphasized the diversity within the team and the importance of respecting each other's opinions, likening the NFL team to a "microcosm" of America.
Despite the support from his teammates and coach, Butker faced criticism from some of Swift's fans, who labeled his remarks as "misogynistic." The current report indicates that while many Chiefs players were seen heading to the event, Butker was not among them.