Eddie Vedder has slammed Harrison Butker during a recent Pearl Jam concert in Las Vegas, calling the Chiefs kicker a 'f***ing p***y' for his controversial commencement speech, earlier this month.
Addressing the NFL player's comments on women graduates potentially being more excited about getting married and having children rather than carving out their own careers at Benedictine College in Kansas on May 11, Vedder praised Jessica Dabon and Patti King - members of the band Deep Sea Driver that were the opening act of Saturday's concert at MGM Grand Arena.
'The singer, Jessica, and the keyboard player, Patti, they must not have believed that ''diabolical lie'' that women should take pride in taking a back seat to their man,' Vedder told the sold-out crowd in footage captured and posted by fans on YouTube.
'There should be pride in homemaking, whether you're a man or a woman,' the U.S. singer continued. 'It's maybe one of the hardest jobs, and you should definitely take pride in it. But you shouldn't not follow a dream because you think you're going to benefit by giving up your dreams.
'[...] You know, the irony was that this football player... started telling men to ''don't forget to puff up your chest and be more masculine.'' Don't lose your masculinity. The irony was that when he was saying that, he looked like such a f***ing p***y.'
Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder condemned Harrison Butker at a Pearl Jam concert in Las Vegas on Saturday, almost a fortnight since the Chiefs kicker's comments on women and motherhood
Butker is facing backlash for his commencement speech at Benedictine College on May 11
Vedder, who is pro-choice and a supporter of former presidential nominee Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), concluded his pre-set remarks with a reflective last line for fans, as he said: 'There's nothing more masculine than a strong man supporting a strong woman. People of quality do not fear equality.'
Appearing as the commencement speaker for the Class of 2024 at Benedictine College - a private Catholic liberal arts school in Atchinson, Kansas, - 10 days ago, Butker said women receiving degrees shouldn't be ashamed about focusing on motherhood if considered a priority instead of career development.
The three-time Super Bowl champion also said some Catholic leaders were 'pushing dangerous gender ideologies onto the youth of America' and called out Joe Biden for being of the faith but also being pro-choice.
Butker - a three-time Super Bowl champ - voiced his conservative Catholic beliefs in the past
His roughly 20-minute address received a standing ovation from graduates and other attendees but a few were left in shock by the speech, as well.
Butker, who's made his conservative Catholic beliefs well known, also assailed Pride month - a particularly important time for the LGBTQ+ rights movement - referring to the annual celebration as a 'deadly sin.'
The 2017 seventh-round pick out of Georgia Tech has become of the NFL's best kickers in recent seasons, breaking the Chiefs' franchise record with a 62-yard field goal in 2022.
Butker helped them win their first Super Bowl in 50 years in 2020, added a second Lombardi Trophy in 2023, and he kicked the field goal that forced overtime in a Super Bowl win over San Francisco in February.
