Kansas Metropolis Chiefs star Travis Kelce responds to Harrison Butker’s graduation handle

Kanas Metropolis Chiefs star Travis Kelce weighed in on his teammate Harrison Butker’s controversial graduation speech at Benedictine Faculty earlier this month.

Talking on the Friday episode of his “New Heights” podcast with brother Jason Kelce, the tight finish stated he doesn’t agree with “nearly any” of Butker’s views however cherishes him as a teammate.

“He is handled household and household that I’ve launched to him with nothing however respect and kindness. And that is how he treats everybody. When it comes all the way down to his views and what he stated at Saint Benedict’s graduation speech, these are his,” Kelce stated. “I can not say I agree with nearly all of it or simply about any of it outdoors of simply him loving his household and his children. And I do not suppose that I ought to decide him by his views, particularly his spiritual views, of tips on how to go about life, that is simply not who I’m.”

Butker made waves in his handle to graduates at Benedictine Faculty when he steered girls must be homemakers, railed towards LGBTQ+ Pleasure Month and took at President Joe Biden and abortion. His feedback sparked widespread backlash and the FNL distanced itself from the kicker’s feedback. 

“Harrison Butker gave a speech in his private capability,” Jonathan Beane, the NFL’s senior vice chairman and chief range and inclusion officer instructed CBS Information in an announcement. “His views usually are not these of the NFL as a company. The NFL is steadfast in our dedication to inclusion, which solely makes our league stronger.”

Whereas individuals on-line condemned his phrases, his jersey turned one of many top-selling after the commencement.

Travis Kelce’s feedback echoed these of his chief teammate and three-time Tremendous Bowl-winning quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

Talking to reporters on Wednesday, Mahomes stated that whereas he does not agree with all of the beliefs espoused by 28-year-old Butker, the Chiefs quarterback however respects his teammate’s proper to make them be recognized.

“I’ve recognized Harrison for seven years. I decide him by the character he exhibits each single day,” Mahomes stated after one of many Chiefs’ voluntary practices in Kansas Metropolis, Missouri. “We’re not all the time going to agree, and there are particular issues he stated that I do not essentially agree with. However I do know the individual he’s and he is doing what he can to steer individuals in the best course.”

Chiefs coach Andy Reid stated that whereas he “talks to Harrison on a regular basis,” he did not imagine he wanted to debate the graduation handle together with his kicker when the staff reconvened in Kansas Metropolis.

“We’re a microcosm of life right here,” Reid stated. “We’re from some totally different areas. Totally different religions. Totally different races. However we get alongside. All of us respect every others’ opinions, and never essentially can we go by these, however we respect everybody to have a voice.”

Throughout Friday’s podcast, Jason Kelce added: “There’s all the time going to be opinions that everyone shares that you’ll disagree with.

“And make no mistake about it, a number of the issues he stated in his graduation speech usually are not issues that I align myself with. However, he is giving a graduation speech at a Catholic college, and, shocker, it ended up being a really spiritual and Catholic speech.

“To me, I can hearken to any individual discuss and take nice worth in it, like when he is speaking in regards to the significance of household and the significance that an awesome mom could make, whereas additionally acknowledging that not everyone must be a homemaker if that is not what they need to do in life.”