Latest news with #Butker
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
She got death threats after Harrison Butker post she didn't write. She's suing KC
A Kansas City communications staffer says her superiors ignored her requests when she asked that they clear her name after she was falsely accused of sending out a social media post last year that allegedly doxxed Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker and then faced online harassment, vitriol and racist death threats. After she complained about their inaction, Andrea Watts said she was subjected to increasingly critical treatment at work in City Hall. She recently sued the city seeking monetary damages on the basis of those allegations. The city declined comment on the lawsuit in Jackson County Circuit Court, as officials do not discuss pending litigation. Watts said she felt threatened by the racist, sexist and violent posts directed toward her after she was falsely identified online as the person who posted a message on the city's X account in response to Butker's controversial speech at a college graduation ceremony last spring. 'Just a reminder that Harrison Butker lives in the City of Lee's Summit,' the May 15, 2024 posting on X said. While it was no secret that Butker lived in that Kansas City suburb and that the tweet did not give out his address, online commenters accused Kansas City of exposing Butker to personal risk and harassment by posting the name of the city where he lived. Many of the commenters accused the city of doxxing Butker after he gave a speech in which he expressed his conservative views on political and social issues, such as abortion and how be believes his wife is happier having sacrificed her career for becoming a homemaker. City officials deleted the post 40 minutes after it went up. Both the city's account and Mayor Quinton Lucas issued online apologies that night, agreeing that the post was inappropriate. The unnamed city employee who authored the post later lost their job. But in the immediate hours after the post was taken down, online furor grew. Watts, a social media specialist, and another female city staffer, were soon singled out for scorn by the online mob, despite having nothing to do with posting the tweet. Both are Black and were subjected to racist and misogynistic posts. They felt threatened when their own personal information was posted online. According to her lawsuit, Watts was identified through her Linked-In account. People posted messages that included her photo and photos of the entryway of one of her addresses 'and personal identifying information published for the purposes of threatening and harming' her. She got death threats. 'There is no hole deep enough, no woods deep enough for you to hide in,' one post read, according to the lawsuit. Another pictured a Black woman hanging from a tree in front of a photograph of the apartment building where Watts lived along with her full name and address. That night, she asked that the city post a statement 'right away to clear her name,' but nothing was done, the suit says. Two days later, on May 17, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey posted a letter to social media demanding records that would show who penned the Butker tweet. That same day as the harassment directed at the two women, Watt's unnamed co-worker sent an email to Mayor Quinton Lucas, the City Council and city manager asking that steps be taken to clear their names, as they felt scared from being subjected to the vile harassment on line. Lucas instead issued a general statement that day stating that some city employees were being falsely accused and harassed. But he did not mention Watts or the other woman by name and the harassment continued. He also sent a letter to Bailey, alleging that his on-line statement had contributed to the climate that led to the ongoing threats towards Black women employed by the city. The women were called the N word. Watts was singled out as 'a DEI hire' and a 'ghetto rat.' The lawsuit claims that the city's 'refusal to end the harassment and discrimination by publicly clearing' Watts' name and that of her co-worker reflected 'a selfish desire to prevent negative media and public attention that would harm the City's reputation and more importantly City Manager Brian Platt's and Assistant City Manager Melissa Kozakiewicz's reputations.' The names of Platt and Kozakiewicz are redacted in the public court record. Platt was fired as city manager this spring after the city lost a lawsuit filed by former communications director Chris Hernandez. The latter claimed he was demoted because he and Platt disagreed on the importance of telling the truth to the news media and public. Platt was focused on the city's image, while Hernandez insisted on being truthful, the suit said. Koazakiewicz oversees the city's communications office and remains a city employee. Due to threats of harm and the release of her personal information, Watts said she asked that the city find her temporary lodging until the internet storm blew over, but claims her request was denied. The city also refused to make any attempt to scrub her personal information from the internet after she requested it, the lawsuit says. She claims her worklife became hostile. She received increasing criticism about her job performance and other unfair treatment after complaining about how the city mishandled her situation. Watts is still employed with the city. She is seeking lost pay and future wages, as well as punitive damages, attorneys fees and other costs associated with preparing the case. She is represented by Erin Vernon and Lynne Bratcher, the lawyers who won the Hernandez whistleblower lawsuit. The City Council last month approved a $1.4 million final settlement that ends any further proceedings in that case. The other woman who was doxxed has also hired an attorney who specializes in employment discrimination, who says she will file a lawsuit in the next couple of weeks.
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Kansas City Chiefs kicker meets with Trump
President Trump met Thursday at the White House with Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker, a supporter of the president who sparked backlash last year with a controversial commencement speech. White House aide Margo Martin posted a photo of Butker and Trump in the Oval Office on social media with the caption, 'The GOAT of kicking @buttkicker7 meets the GOAT of Presidents @realDonaldTrump.' A White House official did not disclose the reason for Butker's visit, but said Trump 'couldn't have been happier to say hello.' Butker endorsed Trump during the 2024 campaign and has been outspoken about his views opposing abortion. The Chiefs kicker made headlines last May when he encouraged the women in attendance at the Benedictine College commencement ceremony to 'embrace one of the most important titles of all: homemaker.' Butker was among the Chiefs players who visited the White House last year and met with President Biden after they won their second consecutive Super Bowl. The Chiefs lost their bid for a third consecutive Super Bowl victory earlier this month, falling to the Philadelphia Eagles, 40-22. Trump had picked the Chiefs, who were the betting favorite, to win the game. Updated at 12:12 p.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Fox News
27-02-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Chiefs' Harrison Butker visits Trump at White House after Super Bowl loss
Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker stopped at the White House on Thursday to pay a visit to President Donald Trump more than two weeks after losing in Super Bowl LIX. Trump picked the Chiefs to defeat the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX. However, the millions of viewers who tuned into the game on FOX and Tubi saw Philadelphia lay the smackdown on Kansas City, winning 40-22, and ending the Chiefs' chance at three consecutive titles. Butker seemed to be in good spirits as he met with Trump in the Oval Office. He also took a photo with White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. "Harrison Butker stopped by the White House today, and the President couldn't have been happier to say hello," a White House official told Fox News. Butker endorsed Trump for president during his 2024 election campaign. He called the Republican the "most pro-life president" in an interview on Fox News Channel's "The Ingraham Angle." "I'm supporting the president that's going to be the most pro-life president, and I think Donald Trump is the most pro-life president," Butker said in October. "That's a topic that is the most crucial topic for me. I want us to be fighting for the most vulnerable, fighting for the unborn, and that's what we should prioritize." In December, Butker was supportive of Trump's pick of the Vatican ambassador. Butker expressed his Christian values in a faith-based commencement speech at Benedictine College last year. He called out former President Joe Biden over his religious views as a Catholic. Butker wore a tie that had "Vulnerari Praesidio" in cursive during the team's Super Bowl title visit to the Biden White House in 2023. It's a Latin term that translates to "Protect the most vulnerable." He also wore a gold pin representing the size of a 10-week-old baby's feet. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
The Hill
27-02-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Kansas City Chiefs kicker meets with Trump
President Trump met Thursday at the White House with Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker, a supporter of the president who sparked backlash last year with a controversial commencement speech. White House aide Margo Martin posted a photo of Butker and Trump in the Oval Office on social media with the caption, 'The GOAT of kicking @buttkicker7 meets the GOAT of Presidents @realDonaldTrump.' A White House spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment about the reason for Butker's visit or what he discussed with Trump. Butker endorsed Trump during the 2024 campaign and has been outspoken about his views opposing abortion. The Chiefs kicker made headlines last May in which he encouraged the women in attendance to 'embrace one of the most important titles of all: homemaker.' Butker was among the Chiefs who visited the White House last year and met with President Biden after they won their second consecutive Super Bowl. The Chiefs lost their bid for a third consecutive Super Bowl victory earlier this month, falling to the Philadelphia Eagles, 40-22. Trump had picked the Chiefs, who were the betting favorite, to win the game.
USA Today
09-02-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Longest field goal in Super Bowl history: Chiefs' Harrison Butker owns record
Longest field goal in Super Bowl history: Chiefs' Harrison Butker owns record Show Caption Hide Caption Over Under on 'tush pushes' in Super Bowl LIX USAT NFL reporters Lorenzo Reyes and Tyler Dragon give their thoughts on what the over/under will be for the tush push happening in the Super Bowl. Sports Seriously Field goal attempts beyond 50 yards used to be a difficult proposition for even the NFL's best kickers. In recent years, they have changed that narrative, and it has showed up when reviewing Super Bowl stats. Six of the seven longest field goals in Super Bowl history have come since the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Rams squared off in Super Bowl 53. Two championship games since then have seen multiple makes from 50-plus yards away, including the Kansas City Chiefs vs. San Francisco 49ers matchup in Super Bowl 58, which saw the longest Super Bowl field goal record broken twice. Who owns the record for the longest Super Bowl field goal? Here's what to know about longest kicks in the Big Game. RANKING ALL 58 SUPER BOWLS: How does first Chiefs-Eagles clash rate? Longest field goal in Super Bowl history Harrison Butker owns the record for the longest field goal in Super Bowl history. The Chiefs kicker set the record in Super Bowl 58 when he made a 57-yard attempt with 5:06 left in the third quarter, cutting the 49ers' lead to 10-6. Butker broke the record previously held by 49ers kicker Jake Moody. The rookie made a 55-yard field goal to open the scoring in Super Bowl 58, so his record-breaking make was short-lived. Full list of longest field goals in Super Bowl history In the NFL's first 58 Super Bowls, kickers made a total of 181 field goals. Only 10 have been from 50-plus yards. Below is a full list of those kicks. BEST SUPER BOWL TEAMS EVER: Do 2023 champion Chiefs make list? What is the longest field goal in NFL history? Butker may own the longest field goal in Super Bowl history, but the longest kick in NFL history belongs to Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker. He made a 66-yard field goal at the end of regulation in a 2021 game against the Detroit Lions to give the Ravens a walk-off 19-17 win. All the NFL news on and off the field. Sign up for USA TODAY's 4th and Monday newsletter.
