In what could only be described as the “shade heard ‘round the sports world,” Harrison Butker found himself the target of Serena Williams’ quick wit during the 2024 ESPY Awards. The 42-year-old tennis legend didn’t hold back while hosting the glitzy event on Thursday night (July 11).
It was a star-studded affair with Serena sharing the stage with her sister Venus Williams and comedian Quinta Brunson. They were celebrating the incredible achievements of female athletes, and things were going smoothly—until, that is, Serena decided to spice things up.
“So, go ahead and enjoy women’s sports like you would any other sports—because they are sports,” Venus, the 44-year-old elder Williams sister, said in a heartfelt moment.
Then Serena dropped the mic, figuratively speaking: “Except you, Harrison Butker. We don’t need you.”
Now, imagine the collective gasp and the slow-motion popcorn dropping to the floor as cameras desperately sought out Butker’s reaction. Alas, the audience’s facial expressions remain a mystery, as the cameras didn’t quite catch his reaction. Spoiler alert: Harrison was probably doing his best impression of a deer caught in headlights.
The following day, with the dust still settling from the ESPY drama, Harrison, 28, took to the digital stage to respond. He shared his thoughts with NBC News, but not without a sprinkle of class and a dash of “nice try.”
“I thought Mrs. Williams was a great host and applaud her for using her platform to express her beliefs on a variety of topics,” Harrison said, presumably while wearing his finest diplomatic hat.
Butker continued, with the kind of grace one would expect from a seasoned kicker dodging metaphorical footballs: “Sports are supposed to be the great unifier and at an event dedicated to celebrating a diverse group of men and women who have accomplished great feats, she used it as an opportunity to disinvite those with whom she disagrees from supporting fellow athletes.”
For those not in the know, Serena’s jab wasn’t a random swing. It stemmed from Harrison’s controversial graduation speech back in May. In his address, Butker tackled a variety of hot topics, from women’s issues and the LGBTQ+ community to abortion rights and beyond. The speech didn’t exactly win him any “Most Popular” awards, hence the ESPY shade from Serena.
So, what have we learned from this? Well, besides the fact that you should always be on your toes if you’re in Serena Williams’ vicinity, it’s a reminder that in the game of sports and life, the best comebacks often come with a side of humor and a generous helping of wit.
