Eddie Vedder Pauses Pearl Jam Concert To Perfectly Rip Harrison Butker's Idea Of Masculinity

Pearl Jam rocker Eddie Vedder spoke out against Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker, who has been called out for a misogynistic and anti-LGBTQ+ commencement speech criticizing working women, reproductive rights, surrogacy, and LGBTQ+ rights at the ultra-conservative Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas.

Vedder paused a concert to criticize Butker's views on masculinity, emphasizing that "there's nothing more masculine than a strong man supporting a strong woman."

He said:

"The irony was that the football player—well, kicker…You see the kicker doesn’t have the pads because he doesn’t tackle anybody or get tackled—but he started 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*cking p*ssy. There’s nothing more masculine than a strong man supporting a strong woman."

"Take that!"

You can hear what Vedder said in the video below.

Vedder's remarks are the latest addition to the controversy surrounding Butker, who urged male graduates to "fight against the cultural emasculation of men," claimed that "abortion, IVF, surrogacy, euthanasia, as well as a growing support for degenerative cultural values in media all stem from the pervasiveness of disorder."

Addressing women graduates directly, he added:

"For the ladies present today, congratulations on an amazing accomplishment. I want to speak directly to you briefly because I think it is you, the women, who have had the most diabolical lies told to you."

"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 also claimed that he is "beyond blessed" because his wife Isabelle "would convert to the faith, become my wife, and embrace one of the most important titles of all: homemaker.” He said her "dream of having a career might not have come true, but if you ask her today if she has any regrets on her decision, she would laugh out loud without hesitation, and say, 'Hey, no.'"

Vedder's remarks resonated with listeners who joined him in criticizing Butker's philosophy.

Butker has not personally responded to the controversy but has nonetheless been defended by some prominent conservatives who have pushed back against criticisms of his speech.

The football player has a "friend" in Missouri Republican Senator Josh Hawley, who himself has said that reading the Bible is the key to addressing a crisis of "disappearing manhood" and "traditional masculinity" that is taking the country by storm. Hawley has also claimed "the Left" is hurting "the future of the American man" and went on to claim that the "deconstruction of America begins with and depends on the deconstruction of American men."

Earlier, actor Patricia Heaton—best known for her role on Everybody Loves Raymond—said she’s “curious” as to why people got “offended” by Butker’s statements, insisting he was only "espousing his own opinions and Catholic doctrine." Heaton said Butker is "not a monster for stating what he believes" and urged critics to "relax."