They leaked the home address of a religious man.
Kansas City faced a wave of criticism and controversy after a social media account linked to the city’s government inadvertently disclosed the residential location of Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker. This incident unfolded following Butker’s commencement speech at Benedictine College, where he delivered a discourse championing traditional Catholic principles. The speech stirred national attention and triggered a Change.org petition urging the NFL to sever ties with Butker, accumulating over 181,000 signatures by Friday morning.
The official Kansas City, Missouri, account on social media platform X inadvertently disclosed Butker’s residential municipality, which lies outside of Kansas City proper. This action, perceived by many as “doxing,” was promptly retracted after online users accused the city of breaching the privacy of a private citizen.
In response to the outcry, the Kansas City X account issued an apology on Wednesday evening, acknowledging the error in judgment. Mayor Quinton Lucas further extended apologies via his personal social media account, acknowledging the inappropriateness of the message and promising a review of account access to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Missouri’s Attorney General Andrew Bailey weighed in on the matter, asserting that the city’s action likely violated the Missouri Human Rights Act by disclosing the residential location of a private individual based on their religious beliefs. Bailey suggested that the tweet could be construed as retaliation against Butker for expressing his religious convictions during the commencement ceremony.
Butker’s speech at the Catholic college touched on contentious topics such as abortion, euthanasia, and cultural values, garnering mixed reactions from the public. He criticized President Joe Biden’s stance on abortion and emphasized the incompatibility of being Catholic and pro-choice.
In response to the controversy, the NFL distanced itself from Butker’s remarks, affirming its commitment to inclusivity. However, advocacy groups like CatholicVote rallied support for Butker, urging the NFL and the Chiefs to stand by the kicker and respect his freedom of expression.
CatholicVote President Brian Burch penned a letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Chiefs CEO Clark Hunt, advocating for Butker’s right to express traditional beliefs without facing backlash or cancellation. Burch condemned the threats and intimidation directed at Butker, labeling them as manifestations of anti-Catholic bigotry.
Amidst the ongoing debate, the incident underscores broader discussions about freedom of speech, religious expression, and the responsibilities of public entities in safeguarding individual privacy and rights.