Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker has responded to a diss by tennis legend Serena Williams. Williams was attending the ESPY Awards and appeared on stage with her sister, Venus Williams, and actress Quinta Brunson discussing women’s sports and the importance of watching them as real sports. “Go ahead and enjoy women’s sports like you would any other sport,” said Venus. Serena then added, “Except you, Harrison Butker, we don’t need you.” Brunson finished the diss with, “At all, like, ever.” Butker was present in the audience but his reaction to the comments was not caught.

The diss appears to be in reference to comments Butker made during a May commencement speech at the Catholic Benedictine College. “How many of you are sitting here now, about to cross this stage, and are thinking about all the promotions and titles you are going to get in your career? 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 said, addressing the women in the crowd. Butker thanked his wife, Isabelle, for choosing “the most important title of all” and choosing to be a homemaker for their family. Critics accused Butker of misogyny, with the NFL releasing a statement that the 29-year-old’s views did not reflect the views of the organization. Conservatives rushed to Butker’s defense, with prominent Catholic actress Patricia Heaton turning to social media to tell people to “calm down.” “The guy is espousing his own opinions and Catholic doctrine, um, so what? It’s his opinion. He can have one. He’s allowed. He’s not a monster for stating what he believes. He went after bishops much more than he went after women, or what women’s choices are or what he thinks they should be, so I don’t understand,” she said.

Butker responded to Williams’s diss in a statement to NBC. “I thought Mrs. Williams was a great host and applaud her for using her platform to express her beliefs on a variety of topics,” wrote Butker. He added, however, that, “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 with from supporting fellow athletes.” Butker has stood by his commencement speech statements and calls to have the Kansas City Chiefs fire him have been largely ignored.