Harrison Butker was present inside the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles while Serena Williams hosted the ESPYs. The Kansas City Chiefs placekicker heard every word that the tennis star said about him.

Later, Butker spoke with NBC News about what he thought of Williams’ statement. Instead of taking a harsh tone, the 28-year-old applauded Williams for being a great host.

He further praised Williams for being a role model for future generations of athletes and speaking her mind on a big stage like the EPSYs.

The three-time Super Bowl winner’s response came after Serena Williams called him out on stage for his alleged sexist and misogynistic statements in May.

In May, a Catholic institution in Kansas City invited Butker as one of the guest speakers during their convocation. He spoke on various subjects, including taking a jab at President Joe Biden and even mentioning instructions on how modern-day men should act.

These were controversial by themselves, but his thoughts on women and their role in society caused an uproar.

Butker faced criticism from all corners. Celebrity wives of current and former athletes bashed him on social media. Some even labeled him as an individual who was still living in the dark ages.

Despite the initial backlash, he found support from the Chiefs fans, and even his jersey was sold out on the Fanatics website. Even though people were happy with Butker, he still received invitations to institutions for speeches. He was also part of the Chiefs group that visited the White House with the Lombardi Trophy.