Kansas City social media manager who made Harrison Butker post no longer employed: Mayor

A social media account manager for Kansas City is no longer employed because of a post that identified Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker’s city of residence, igniting widespread controversy and accusations of doxxing.

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas said the city “has separated from the employee who was responsible for the message” during a Thursday morning interview with conservative radio host Pete Mundo on KCMO Talk Radio 95.7 FM.

“I think that to me, in many ways, resolves a lot of back and forth in the political world. I think there has been accountability from the city of Kansas City,” the mayor said.

“We all look forward to moving on. Letting the Chiefs play. Letting the city do what it’s supposed to do in delivering basic services. And hopefully you and I get to get back to conversations about potholes and everything else under the sun.”

The social media post appeared on the city’s official X account, formerly Twitter, four days after Butker delivered a commencement speech at Benedictine College, a Catholic college in Atchison, Kansas. Before the post was deleted a few minutes later, it said: “Just a reminder that Harrison Butker lives in the City of Lee’s Summit.”

The Chiefs kicker, a conservative Catholic, had sparked anger in sharing his personal opinion on a range of political, religious and social issues. During the 20-minute speech, Butker criticized President Joe Biden on abortion, referred to LGBTQ Pride Month as an example of the “deadly sins” and said one of a woman’s most important titles is “homemaker” when speaking of his wife.

The city’s social media post sparked further discord and especially angered conservatives, including Republican Attorney General Andrew Bailey. The attorney general, running for election to the post for the first time, said Butker had been “doxxed” for expressing his religious beliefs and demanded the city take steps to hold those responsible accountable.

Lucas quickly condemned the city’s social media post last week, saying the statement was “clearly inappropriate.” The mayor has also asked for civility as women employed by the city who were not involved in the post had been bullied and harassed.

The employee who made the post has not been identified by city officials. It was unclear based on the mayor’s remarks whether the person had resigned or been fired.

In a statement to The Star, Lucas spokeswoman Jazzlyn Johnson said the post fell “outside the scope” of authorized communications and amounted to a violation of city policies.

Johnson said the city would have no further comment on the post “or individual employees related to it.”