Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker caused quite a stir with his graduation speech to students at Benedictine College in Kansas. As usual, fans were divided pretty much right down the middle on Buter's take, with some showing unwavering support and others displaying outrage.
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In short, Butker encouraged female graduates to embrace their role as a "homemaker," and criticized the LGBTQ community and President Biden's stance on abortion. Again, many agreed. And many strongly did the opposite.
As for commissioner Roger Goodell, well, he basically said the same thing the league said in a statement right after Butker's comments hit the Internet. Goodell, of course, was diplomatic.
"We have over 3,000 players. We have executives around the league. They have diversity of opinions and thoughts just like America does," Goodell said from the league meetings, via Tom Pelissero of NFL Media. "That's something we treasure."
In other words, the opinions of Butker are just that — opinions. And guess what? Even if you don't agree with them, he's allowed to have them. Just as are those who disagree with his opinions allowed to have their own.
The statement from the league was a little bit stronger, making sure that everyone understood the NFL is all about inclusion.
"Harrison Butker gave a speech in his personal capacity," Jonathan Beane, the NFL's senior vice president and chief diversity and inclusion officer, told People. "His views are not those of the NFL as an organization. The NFL is steadfast in our commitment to inclusion, which only makes our league stronger."
Butker, for his part, did receive support from Gracie Hunt, the daughter of Chiefs owner Clark Hunt.
"I can only speak from my own experience, which is I had the most incredible mom who had the ability to stay home and be with us as kids growing up," Gracie Hunt told FOX News. "And I understand that there are many women out there who can't make that decision but for me in my life, I know it was really formative in shaping me and my siblings to be who we are."
She added, "I really respect Harrison and his Christian faith."
