ESPYS
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Serena Williams threw a comical jab at NFL kicker Harrison Butker during the 2024 ESPYS, delighting social media users.
The 2024 ESPY Awards were held live on Thursday (July 11), and Harrison Butker of the Kansas City Chiefs was the subject of one of the biggest laughs of the evening thanks to the host Serena Williams. Standing onstage with her sister, Venus Williams, and Abbott Elementary star Quinta Brunson delivered a raucous monologue all about how fans can enjoy women’s sports. “So, go ahead and enjoy women’s sports like you would any other sports, because they are sports,” Venus Williams said. “Except you, Harrison Butker. We don’t need you,” Serena stated. “At all. Like, ever,” Brunson replied.
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The crowd – which included the Chiefs kicker and his coach, Andy Reid – burst into laughter. It was another crack delivered towards Butker in response to his controversial commencement speech given to graduating students at Benedictine College this past May. In his remarks, he criticized those “pushing dangerous gender ideologies onto the youth of America.” He touched on his opposition to the LGBTQIA communities, decrying transgender athletes in sports. The conservative Christian also congratulated the women graduates, but also said:“ 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.” The comments drew major rebuke of Butker from many in the public, despite quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Coach Reid defending him.
Serena’s stinging barb caught the attention of some who were derisive of the 23-time Grand Slam winner, with a few stating that women’s sports didn’t matter that much anyway. Many more, however, were highly supportive of her joke especially on social media.
We’ve gathered a selection of the best responses to Serena Williams’ slam of Harrison Butker below.
1. Gerren Petersen
2. Jubal A Early
4. Mona Eltahawy
5. Pammy Dee
6. Rachel Wilkins
7. Skylar Jordan
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This current generation of Hip-Hoppers may not remember the reign of Lil Wayne in the mid 2000s, but us older heads do, so when Weezy took the stage at the 2023 ESPYS to open up the night with a classic hit, y’all know we was all in our retro feelings.
Before the awards were handed out last night and numerous athletes got their well-deserved flowers, Lil Wayne opened up the festivities with a rendition of his classic 2008 hit, “A Milli.” Needless to say, the audience got hype and turnt up as they traveled back in time and bounced to the beat the same way they did when they wore baggy clothes and Bape sneakers to boot. Tiffany Haddish throwing her arms up with excitement pretty much summed up how everyone over 30 years old was feeling in that moment.
Aside from the dope performance, the night was filled with numerous moments that had social media buzzing including statements from your favorite athletes about their future plans and others just having some fun at the events.
Stereo Gum reports:
There were plenty of news stories coming out of last night’s ESPYs: LeBron James announcing that he’s not retiring, Patrick Mahomes showing up looking like Riff Raff. But the only thing that really makes sense for this website — another H.E.R. performance on another awards show doesn’t count — was Wayne bringing back his 2008 smash “A Milli,” giving it slight lyrical tweaks to reflect the occasion: “I want my NIL, so I’m going back to college/ Tattoos on my face, you could call me Dennis Rodman.” He also threw in a line about “Damar Hamlin doin’ fine.”
Check out Lil Wayne take everyone back to 2008 below, and let us know if you felt that retro vibe during his performance in the comments section below.
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LeBron James, in the eyes of many, will go down as one of the best basketball players to ever lace them up and the accolades are numerous. Still, King James cast doubt if he’d return to the court for his 21st NBA season but that chatter was silenced at this year’s ESPYS Award ceremony.
LeBron James, 38, received the Best Record-Breaking Performance ESPY award Wednesday night (July 12) but before he went to deliver his moving acceptance speech, James’ wife, Savannah James introduced her husband to the Dolby Theatre crowd in Los Angeles in humorous fashion. Mrs. James was flanked by their three children, sons Bronny and Bryce, and daughter Zhuri.
James showed all of the poise of a veteran as he took the stage and thanked his supporters while taking note of his long list of detractors. In his speech, James told the crowd that his devotion to the game is still strong as it ever was and despite his advanced age, he still has a lot left to give. And it was in this speech that the kid from Akron, Ohio let the world know that he was running it back.
“I don’t care how many more points I score or what I can or cannot do on the floor,” James said. “The real question for me is, ‘Can I play without cheating this game?’ The day I can’t give everything on the floor is the day I’ll be done. Lucky for you guys, that day is not today.”
Among the attendees were some of James’ former teammates such as Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, and others. James’ speech was met with approving nods and applause from the crowd, and the news certainly delighted Lakers Nation who all assumed that after the team was swept by the Denver Nuggets in this year’s Western Conference playoffs, James would retire.
On Twitter, LeBron James saw his name trending with people celebrating the news along with some requisite hate, something James mentioned in his speech. We’ve got reactions from all sides below.
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