Eddie Vedder, lead vocalist of the iconic rock band Pearl Jam, made a powerful statement during the show at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The video clip of him taking a moment to address recent comments made by NFL kicker Harrison Butker in a graduation speech went viral.
During the show over the weekend, Eddie Vedder, referring to Butker's remarks on women, suggested that people of "quality" do not feel threatened by the empowerment of others.
"There's nothing more masculine than a strong man supporting a strong woman. Take that. People of quality do not fear equality," Vedder said.
As per CNN, on May 11, 2024, Harrison Butker, during a graduation speech at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, suggested that women's achievements are more celebrated in households than academic or career pursuits.
Eddie Jerome Vedder is an American singer and musician. He is known as a lead vocalist, primary lyricist, and one of three guitarists for the rock band Pearl Jam.
Eddie Vedder rebukes Harrison Butker's views in a graduation speech
On May 19, 2024, a video clip of Eddie Vedder addressing the crowd in Las Vegas swirled on X. In the video, Eddie referenced Butker's recent remarks and publicly questioned the graduation speech, suggesting he could not understand the "logic."
"You're going to benefit by giving up your dreams? I couldn't understand the logic, so I'm questioning it in public right now. It's not a graduation speech," Vedder said.
Vedder further showed his disagreement with the statement made by the American football kicker and 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**king p**sy."
Before calling out Butker's remarks, Eddie Vedder took a moment to express gratitude to the band Deep Sea Diver for opening the show, including the female performers. He suggested that the female performers of the band must not believe in diabolical lies.
"While I have your attention. Can we please raise our voices, clap our hands, and show our appreciation for the first group to be on the stage tonight, Deep Sea Diver?"
"That's some good men and good women making up a great band. The singer, Jessica, and the keyboard player, Patti, they must not have believed that diabolical lie that women should take pride in taking a back seat to their man," he said.
The video from Eddie Vedder's show showed the crowd clapping and cheering loudly, demonstrating their support for Vedder's message.
Pearl Jam is on its Dark Matter World Tour 2024 with special guests, Deep Sea Diver.
What did NFL kicker Harrison Butker say?
On Friday, May 11, 2024, as per CNN, the American football kicker, Butker, in a crowd of 485 students, including females, suggested that women have had the most "diabolical lies" said to them.
"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," Harrison Butker said.
He elaborated by suggesting that a significant portion of the female graduates present may prioritize aspirations related to marriage and family over professional advancements.
"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," he added.
However, in response, on May 17, 2024, Benedictine College nuns wrote in a statement on Facebook suggesting that sisters of Mount St. Scholastica do not believe in Harrison Butker's comments commenced in the speech, as NPR reports.
Harrison Butker has not responded to any of the comments made thus far, neither from Eddie Vedder nor the college nuns.