City fires employee involved in Harrison Butker social media post following controversial speech

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV/Gray News) - The city of Kansas City tweeted and then deleted a tweet regarding Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker last week.

The employee who sent that tweet has now been fired.

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas confirmed the person who sent a tweet regarding Butker’s city of residence was no longer employed by the city during an interview with KCMO Talk Radio on Thursday.

During Thursday’s City Council meeting, the city also planned to read a resolution “offering a formal apology to Harrison Butker from the City of Kansas City and recognizing that Kansas City is a welcoming city to people of all religions.”

A spokesperson for the mayor released the following statement Thursday afternoon:

“The employee has been separated from the City workforce for violation of City policy by posting outside the scope of authorized City communications. The City will have no further comment on the post or individual employees related to it.”

Butker made headlines for his commencement speech at Benedictine College for his comments on motherhood, COVID policies, Pride Month and other items.

The city had tweeted on X that Butker resides in a different municipality. Nearly 30 minutes later, the tweet was deleted from the city’s official account @KansasCity.

After the tweet was deleted by the city, the mayor responded to a tweet asking why it was deleted.

“It was not an appropriate post for the City of Kansas City,” Lucas shared. “It should not have ever been up.”

Butker, a traditional Catholic whose faith is no secret on his social media platforms, has been outspoken in his stance on abortion and family life.

In his commencement speech, Butker also shared with the graduates, specifically the women in attendance, how his wife has felt most fulfilled in her life being a homemaker.

Following the speech, jersey sales for Butker made his No. 7 among the most popular in the NFL.

Tavia Hunt, wife of Chiefs owner Clark Hunt, along with her daughter Gracie and Chris Jones, voiced their support for the Chiefs placekicker.

On Wednesday, head coach Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes stood by Butker for his character and shared their respect for everyone being allowed to voice their own opinion.

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