Another star player on the world champion Kansas City Chiefs has addressed kicker Harrison Butker’s polarizing commencement speech. On a new episode of his “New Heights” podcast Friday (May 24), Pro Bowl tight end Travis Kelce said although he cherishes Butker as a teammate, he doesn’t agree with “just about any of [his commencement speech], outside of just him loving his family and his kids.”
Kelce, 34, added that he didn’t want to judge Butker for his views—“especially his religious views, of how to go about life. That’s just not who I am.” Kelce’s comments echoed those of Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who said earlier in the week that though he might not always agree with Butker, he respects the kicker’s character.
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In a May 11 commencement address at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, Butker told graduates that women should prioritize homemaking. The outspoken Catholic also railed against Pride Month and President Biden’s support of abortion. While describing the “lies” that he said society tells women, Butker mentioned lyrics from pop star Taylor Swift, who is dating Travis Kelce.
Travis Kelce: Harrison Butker Acts With ‘Respect and Kindness’
On Friday’s podcast, Kelce said Butker has “treated friends and family that I’ve introduced to him with nothing but respect and kindness, and that’s how he treats everyone. When it comes down to his views and what he said at St. Benedict’s commencement speech, those are his.”
About his own upbringing, Kelce credited both his parents for working and providing for the family. “And both my mother and my father made home what it was,” the athlete said. “So they were homemakers, and they were providers, and they were unbelievable at being present every single day in my life.”
Kelce, who said he appreciates all “walks of life,” added, “Now, I don’t think everyone should do it the way my parents did. But I certainly and sure as hell thank my parents and love my parents for being able to provide and making sure that home was what it was.”
Kelce grew up in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, amid a “broad spectrum” of “different social classes, different religions, different races and ethnicities,” he said Friday. “And I appreciated every single one of those people for different reasons, and I never once had to feel like I needed to judge them, based off of their beliefs.”
Jason Kelce: Parents Should Prioritize That Role
Jason Kelce, who co-hosts “New Heights” with his younger brother, also chimed in about Butker’s commencement speech. The 36-year-old, who recently retired after 13 seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, admitted being “a little bit frustrated” with the content of the speech. But, he added, “There’s always going to be opinions that everybody shares that you’re going to disagree with.”
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