Travis Kelce has broken his silence on his Kansas City Chiefs teammate Harrison Butker’s recent controversial speech where he said women are meant to be housewives.
Butker sparked widespread outrage with a 20-minute speech at Benedictine College, Kansas, where he directly addressed graduating women and told them to be excited about the “vocation” of being a homemaker, using his wife as an example.
Now, speaking on the latest episode of New Heights, Kelce – who was filming the show from Europe, where he will be joining his girlfriend Taylor Swift on her Eras Tour – addressed the backlash against his teammate.
“I appreciate him as a teammate. “I think Pat said it best when he’s a great person and a great teammate,” he said.
‘He has treated the family and the family I introduced him to with nothing but respect and kindness. And that’s how he treats everyone.
‘When it comes to his views and what he said in the St. Benedict’s commencement speech, those are his. I can’t say I agree with most or any part of it other than that he loves his family and his children.
‘And I don’t think I should judge him for his views, especially his religious views, on how to live life, I’m just not like that.
‘I grew up in a beautiful upbringing of different social classes, different religions, different races and ethnicities and that’s why I love Cleveland Heights.
‘It showed me a broad spectrum, a broad view of many different areas of life. I appreciated each of these people for different reasons and never had to feel like I needed to judge them for their beliefs.
‘My mother and father supported my family and my mother and father made my home what it was. And they were incredible at being present every day of my life.
“I think it was a beautiful upbringing for me. Now, I don’t think everyone should do it like my parents did, but I sure appreciate and love my parents for being able to provide and make my home what it was.
“I’m not the same person without both of them being who they were in my life.”
Jason Kelce also said he disagrees with Butker, but criticized the level of the backlash. Thousands of people signed a petition calling for the Chiefs to cut Butker.
In response to Travis, he said, “It’s always great to hear from people who actually know that a lot of people react to comments without ever having met the guy.”
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