At a time where Harrison Butker is hard-pressed to find many media members or outlets defending his controversial college commencement speech, the Kansas City Chiefs kicker found an unlikely ally in Whoopi Goldberg.
Butker sparked outrage last weekend while speaking to an audience of graduates at Benedictine College, a private Catholic school in Kansas. During the commencement speech, Butker made remarks that were widely criticized for being transphobic, homophobic, and sexist.
Butker ranted against abortion, IVF, and surrogacy. He claimed Pride Month represented “deadly sins” and alleged women have had “the most diabolical lies” told to them. Butker proceeded to encourage the graduating women sitting in front of him to forego their career aspirations to be a housewife and mother.
The NFL condemned Butker’s speech, noting his message of seclusion was given in his “personal capacity” and does not align with league views. While many have criticized Butker’s speech, Whoopi Goldberg came to his defense Thursday morning on The View, comparing the Chiefs kicker to Colin Kaepernick kneeling for social justice during the national anthem.
“I like when people say what they need to say…These are his beliefs and he’s welcome to them.” – Whoopi Goldberg on Harrison Butker’s controversial college commencement speech pic.twitter.com/L0wIDUDe35
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 16, 2024
“I like when people say what they need to say,” Goldberg said. “These are his beliefs and he’s welcome to them. I don’t have to believe them. I don’t have to accept them. The ladies that were sitting in that audience do not have to accept them. The same way we want respect when Colin Kaepernick takes a knee, we want to give respect to people whose ideas are different from ours.”
Goldberg went on to claim Donald Trump “says the way to act is to take away people’s right to say how they feel. We don’t want to be that. We don’t want to be those people. So, I’m okay with him saying whatever he says.”
Co-host Sara Haines pushed back on Goldberg’s assessment by labeling Butker an “extremist,” although she agreed on not wanting the Chiefs kicker to lose his job over the speech.
As a conservative Catholic himself, Butker was speaking to a group of largely like-minded individuals at Benedictine College. This speech was not written for the masses.
Goldberg is correct in noting Butker should have the right to express his views, but he took his speech to a place of intolerance. And the NFL would certainly prefer to avoid having any player alienate fans by preaching seclusion and intolerance.
[The View]
