Travis Kelce still has love for Kansas City Chiefs teammate Harrison Butker, though he “can’t say” he agrees with most of the views expressed in the latter’s controversial commencement speech.
The 34-year-old tight end used the latest episode of his “New Heights” podcast to share his perspective on the Benedictine College speech — which a viral petition with more than 225 signatures described as “dehumanizing” as well as “sexist, homophobic, anti-trans, anti-abortion and racist.”
“I mean, I’ve known him for seven-plus, eight-plus years and I cherish him as a teammate,” Travis said of the kicker. “He’s 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 the commencement speech, you know, those are his [views]. I can’t say I agree with the majority of it — or just about any of it — outside of just him loving his family or his kids.”
Noting that he doesn’t believe he “should judge [Butker] by his views, especially his religious views of how he goes about life,” Travis cited “beautiful upbringing of different social classes, different religions, races and ethnicities in Cleveland Heights.”
“It showed me a broad view of just a lot of different walks of life and I appreciated every single one of those people for different reasons,” he said.
While Travis shared that in the Kelce household, “my mother and my father both provided for our family, and [they] both made home what it was,” he said he “never once had to feel like I had to judge [others] based on their beliefs.”
His remarks came just two days after teammates Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid noted that, while they might not see eye to eye with Butker, they stood behind their teammates right to express himself.
In his speech, which the NFL has distanced itself from, Butker urged women — including female graduates in the audience — to prioritize marriage and children above their own professional aspirations. He also condemned Pride month, abortion, in-vitro fertilization and diversity initiatives.
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