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Recently there has been so much controversy Surrounding Harrison Butker's commencement speech at Benedictine College. Tight end Travis Kelce and his brother, Jason Kelce, delved into the issue on their "New Heights” podcast, providing a more personal perspective on Butker's comments.
Travis Kelce emphasized his respect and admiration for Butker as a teammate. "I cherish him as a teammate," Kelce said. "He is every bit of a great person and a great teammate. 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."
Kelce, however, made it clear that he did not agree with the majority of Butker's views expressed in the speech, especially regarding women's roles and religious beliefs. "I can't say I agree with the majority of it, or just about any of it outside of just him loving his family and his kids. I don't think that I should judge him by his views, especially by his religious views, about how to go about life. That's just not who I am."
Butker's address, which criticized aspects such as Pride Month, abortion, surrogacy, and women prioritizing careers over motherhood, was delivered at a Catholic university and naturally reflected religious perspectives. Jason Kelce said, "He's giving a commencement speech at a Catholic university, and, shocker, it ended up being a very religious and Catholic speech." Jason, like his brother, did not align with Butker's views but respected his right to express them, urging listeners to take what they found valuable and leave the rest.
The NFL issued a statement distancing itself from Butker's views, affirming its commitment to inclusion and diversity. "His views are not those of the NFL as an organization," the league stated.
Throughout the discussion, Travis Kelce reflected on his upbringing in a diverse Cleveland Heights neighborhood, which shaped his appreciation for different perspectives. "It showed me a broad spectrum, just a broad view of a lot of different walks of life," Kelce said. "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."
Travis also praised his parents for providing a balanced home environment, a point of contention in Butker's speech. "Both my mother and my father made home what it was," Kelce said. "They were homemakers and they were providers and they were unbelievable at being present every single day in my life. I don’t think everyone should do it the way that my parents did, but I certainly, sure as hell, thank my parents and love my parents for being able to provide and making sure that home was what it was because I’m not the same person without both of them being who they were in my life.”
