With Harrison Butker making headlines for the controversial graduation speech that he delivered at Benedictine University this month, you might be asking questions about who he is married to.
The 28-year-old NFL player took aim at a variety of topics in the speech, including abortion rights and women who work.
After saying that women in the graduating class had been told “diabolical lies” and implied that “the majority” of them were looking forward to marriage and motherhood more than their careers, he referenced his wife Isabelle.
What else did he say and who is Isabelle? We can answer those questions.
Keep reading to find out more…
“For the ladies present today, congratulations on an amazing accomplishment,” Harrison said in his speech. “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,” he continued.
He then focused on his wife: “I can tell you that my beautiful wife Isabelle would be the first to say that her life truly started when she began living her vocation as a wife and mother. I’m on this stage today and able to be the man I am because I have a wife who leans into her vocation.”
As for her unrealized professional ambitions, he said, “Isabelle‘s 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, ‘Heck no.’”
Here’s what you need to know about Isabelle beyond what Harrison said in the speech.
The Butkers are high school sweethearts who even went to prom together.
Back in 2013, Harrison shared a photo of the duo coordinating in red on prom night. At that point, the high school sweethearts had already been dating for at least three years based on a timeline he provided in another post.
The athlete hopped on Instagram again in early 2017 to announce their engagement.
“After almost 7 years of being best friends with this girl, I finally popped the question,” he wrote alongside photos of them on the field where he seemingly proposed. “From the first moments of our relationship, back in freshman year of high school, I always envisioned marrying you and raising a family together. You push me to be a better man and are so patient and forgiving when I fall short. I am truly amazed at how God has worked in your life and in our relationship and pray we continue to learn and grow from each other. Can’t wait to see what our future holds together as a married couple! I love you Izzy.”
They said “I do” in 2018.
One year after their wedding, the couple welcomed their first child – James Augustine Butker. Baby James got to celebrate a pretty big event with his dad shortly after he was born – Harrison‘s first Super Bowl win.
“I’ll never forget this moment,” Harrison tweeted alongside a video of him holding his son as confetti rained down around them on the field.
Harrison and Isabelle welcomed a second child – a little girl whose name we do not know – in secret. She made her debut alongside her brother on the field after the Chiefs won the 2023 Super Bowl.
She has not spoken out about Harrison‘s speech. However, the football player issued his first comments on Friday (May 25).
See what his teammate Travis Kelce had to say about the controversial speech.