Kansas Metropolis Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker has no regrets about expressing his beliefs in a latest graduation speech and he stated he has acquired assist in addition to “a surprising stage of hate” from others.
Butker spoke Friday night time on the Regina Caeli Academy Braveness Below Hearth Gala in Nashville, Tennessee.
He made his first public feedback since his controversial latest graduation speech at Benedictine School in Atchison, Kansas, the place he stated most ladies receiving levels have been in all probability extra enthusiastic about getting married and having youngsters; argued some Catholic leaders have been “pushing harmful gender ideologies onto the youth of America;” referred to a “lethal sin type of delight that has a month devoted to it” in an indirect reference to Delight month; and took purpose at President Joe Biden’s insurance policies, together with his condemnation of the Supreme Court docket’s reversal of the 1973 Roe v Wade choice.
“It’s now, over the previous few days, my beliefs or what individuals suppose I consider have been the main focus of numerous discussions across the globe,” Butker stated Friday. “On the outset, many individuals expressed a surprising stage of hate. However as the times went on, even those that disagreed with my viewpoints shared their assist for my freedom of faith.”
Butker stated he understands being criticized for his efficiency on the sector. The 28-year-old stated he values his faith greater than soccer.
“It’s a call I’ve consciously made and one I don’t remorse in any respect,” he stated.
The NFL has distanced itself from Butker’s feedback. The league stated the feedback and “views will not be these of the NFL as a company”.
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes stated the three-time Tremendous Bowl winner is entitled to his beliefs, despite the fact that he doesn’t at all times agree with him.
Talking about Butker on his New Heights podcast, Chiefs tight finish Travis Kelce stated he cherishes Butker as a teammate.
“When it comes all the way down to his views and what he stated at (the) graduation speech, these are his,” Kelce stated. “I can’t say I agree with nearly all of it or simply about any of it outdoors of simply him loving his household and his youngsters. And I don’t suppose that I ought to choose him by his views, particularly his non secular views, of easy methods to go about life, that’s simply not who I’m.”
Kelce does the podcast along with his brother Jason, who not too long ago retired after an impressive profession with the Philadelphia Eagles.