Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes defended his teammate, kicker Harrison Butker, describing him as a “great person” despite the reaction Butker received controversial comments made during a commencement speech.
Mahomes emphasized his support for Butker’s character while distancing himself from the substance of Butker’s comments.
“I know Harrison. I’ve known Harrison for seven years and I judge him by the character he shows every day and he’s a good person,” the three-time Super Bowl champion told reporters Wednesday in Kansas City. “He IS someone who cares about the people around him, cares about his family and wants to make a good impact on society.”
The 28-year-old highlighted the diversity of perspectives within an NFL team, highlighting the importance of respecting differing opinions.
“When you’re in the locker room, there’s a lot of people from different walks of life,” Mahomes said. “There are certain things he said that I don’t necessarily agree with, but I understand the person he is and he’s trying to do everything he can to lead people in the right direction.”
“And those may not be the same values that I have,” he added. “But at the same time, I’m going to judge him by the character he shows every day and is a great person.”
Butker has faced intense criticism for his speech earlier this month to graduates of Benedictine College, a Catholic liberal arts school in Atchison, Kansas.
In his speech, Butker — the Kansas City Chiefs advocate — criticized President Joe Biden and several other politicized topics, saying, “Bad policies and bad leadership have negatively impacted life’s major issues. Things like abortion, in vitro fertilization , surrogacy, euthanasia, as well as a growing support for cultural values and degenerate media, all result from the spread of disorder.”
He also took aim at what he called “dangerous gender ideologies,” adding an apparent critique of Pride month. But the most talked about part of Butker’s speech was when he addressed the women graduates of the Benedictine Class of 2024.
“I think it was you, the women, who heard the most diabolical lies told,” he said. “How many of you are sitting here right now, about to cross this phase and thinking about all the promotions and titles you will get in your career? Some of you may go on to lead successful careers in the world, but I would venture to guess that most of you are more excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into this world, I can say that my beautiful wife, Isabelle, would be the first to say that her life really began when she started living it. vocation of wife and mother.”
The kicker from Decatur, Georgia, also cited as Taylor Swiftthe song “Bejeweled” while addressing the graduates.
“As my teammate’s girlfriend says, ‘familiarity breeds contempt,'” Butker said, referencing Travis Kelce.
Although the Chiefs declined to comment on Butker’s commencement speech, former Kansas City commissioner Judge Horn criticized the address on social media.
“Harrison Butker does not represent Kansas City and never has. Kansas City has always been a place that welcomes, affirms and embraces members of our LGBTQ+ community,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
In their response, the Benedictine nuns said: “Our community has taught young women and men not only to be ‘homemakers’ in a limited sense, but also to create within themselves a compassionate, Gospel-centered home where they can welcome others”. like Christ, empowering them to be the best versions of themselves. We reject a narrow definition of what it means to be Catholic. We are faithful members of the Catholic Church who embrace and promote the values of the Gospel, Saint Benedict and the Vatican. II and the teachings of Pope Francis.”
“We want to be known as an inclusive and welcoming community that embraces the Benedictine values that have endured for more than 1,500 years and have spread across all continents and nations. We believe that these values are the core of Colégio Beneditino”, they continued. “We thank everyone who supports our Monte community and the values we uphold. With Saint Benedict, we pray: ‘Let us prefer absolutely nothing to Christ, and may he lead us all together to eternal life.’”
O NFL shared a statement via Jonathan Beane, the league’s senior vice president and chief diversity and inclusion officer.
“Harrison Butker gave a speech in a personal capacity,” Beane told ET in a statement. “Your opinions of him are not those of the NFL as an organization. The NFL is steadfast in our commitment to inclusion, which only makes our league stronger.”
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