Eddie Vedder took a swipe at Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker during Pearl Jam’s Saturday performance in Las Vegas, calling him a “pussy” for the retrograde comments he made during last week’s commencement address at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas.
You can watch Vedder make his comments below.
During his controversial speech, Butker congratulated the women graduates, whom he claimed had been fed “diabolical lies” about their future. “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,” the kicker said. He then praised his wife, Isabella, for “[leaning] into her vocation” as a homemaker.
Eddie Vedder’s Response to Harrison Butker
Vedder used his own public forum to refute Butker’s comments, drawing attention to Pearl Jam’s opening act, Deep Sea Diver, whose lineup includes two women: singer and guitarist Jessica Dobson and keyboardist, singer and percussionist Patti King.
“While I have your attention, can we please raise our voices, clap our hands, show our appreciation for the first group to be on the stage tonight … Deep Sea Diver!” Vedder said. “That’s some good men, good women, making up a great band. 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.”
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After pausing a beat for audience applause, Vedder continued: “OK, I get that could be for some people, and there should be pride in homemaking, whether you’re a man or a woman. 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 that is the more, that you’re gonna benefit by giving up your dreams. I couldn’t understand the logic. So, I’m questioning in public right now. It’s not a graduation speech, but it’s a full house in Las Vegas, so I want to see how you felt.”
Vedder then directed his ire squarely at Butker. “You know, the irony was that this football player, kicker — you see the kicker because he doesn’t have the pads because he doesn’t tackle anybody or get tackled. But, you know, he was telling men, ‘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— pussy. There’s nothing more masculine than a strong man supporting a strong woman. And people of quality do not fear equality. And that woman, Jessica, she’s not fronting a band, playing in Las Vegas and being on tour because she decided, ‘Yeah, I’ll just take the back seat and support a man.’”
Fans hoping to catch more fiery onstage commentary from Vedder will have the opportunity to do so through November, as Pearl Jam will be touring North America, Europe and Australia in support of their new album, Dark Matter.
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Gallery Credit: Michael Gallucci
