MS governor's communications director supports controversial Chief's kicker Harrison Butker

Republican Gov. Tate Reeves' communications director is coming out in support of controversial statements from a Kansas City Chiefs player during a college graduation ceremony.

Hunter Estes, who has worked for Reeves in his role since 2022, posted a photo of Chief's Kicker Harrison Butker with a quote calling on men to fight against modern thoughts about their role in society.

"Be unapologetic in your masculinity," the tweet, which quoted Butker, read. "Fight against the cultural emasculation of men. Do hard things. Never settle for what is easy."

In response to the quote, Estes said more people should be like Butker.

"This is indeed a brave and rebellious message for our current age," Estes wrote. "The world needs more good men like Harrison Butker."

The Spectrum Center board of directors said in a statement sent to the Clarion Ledger Friday afternoon that it is not surprised but still are disappointed by the move from one of Reeves' staff. The organization is a youth LGBTQ community center in Hattiesburg.

Since taking office, Reeves has signed several bills into law limiting Transgender rights, including bills to prevent transgender minors from seeking gender affirming treatments, play sports with people who align with their gender identity and most recently, a bill to limit where transgender people can use restrooms and other public facilities on college campuses.

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"While it’s disappointing and disgusting that staff members of Governor Reeves espouse the same views as men like Butker, it is not surprising when the Reeves administration has done nothing for the people of Mississippi but steal from our most vulnerable and pass useless and prejudicial legislation," the board wrote.

Estes' comments come on the heels of a commencement speech Butker made earlier this week at Benedictine College, a Catholic liberal arts college in Kansas, where Butker made several controversial remarks toward the role of women in relationships and the workplace, LGBTQ people and men.

"I think it is you, the women, who have had the most diabolic lies told to you," Butker said. "Some of you may go on to lead successful careers in the world, but I would venture to guess that the majority of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into this world."

Butker, who is from Georgia and played football at Georgia Tech, also took several shots at the LGBTQ community and Pride Month, which has been celebrated since 1969. He called it, as well as other LGBTQ related topics as "dangerous gender ideologies."

"Not the deadly sins sort of Pride that has an entire month dedicated to it," Butker said, "But the true God-centered pride that is cooperating with the holy ghost to glorify him."

The NFL has publicly distanced itself from Butker's remarks.

In response to the speech, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation put out a statement condemning Butker's words as both inappropriate for a commencement ceremony and insulting to women and LGBTQ people.

“Kansas City Chiefs player Harrison Butker’s commencement speech was not only a clear miss, it was inaccurate, ill-informed, and woefully out of step with Americans about Pride, LGBTQ people and women," GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis Those with expansive platforms, especially athletes, should use their voices to uplift and expand understanding and acceptance in the world. Instead, Butker’s remarks undermine experiences not of his own and reveal him to be one who goes against his own team’s commitment to the Kansas City community, and the NFL’s standards for respect, inclusion, and diversity across the League.”

The Spectrum Center board also condemned Butker's statements.

"It’s clear Harrison Butker is so steeped in privilege and delusion that he can’t recognize the innumerable prejudices and logical flaws in his backwards ideology," the board wrote. "Women are self-determinable human beings who have more in mind for themselves than birthing babies and playing house for men like Butker."

Estes declined to comment further on his tweet because he was away on business.

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Grant McLaughlin covers state government for the Clarion Ledger. He can be reached at gmclaughlin@gannett.com or 972-571-2335.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: MS governor aid tweets support of controversial kicker Harrison Butker