Travis Kelce spoke out about Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker’s controversial graduation speech at Benedictine University earlier this month. He made the remarks on the “New Heights” podcast on Friday. He said he “cannot say I agree with most” of what was said but “values” Butker as a teammate.
While discussing the Chiefs’ start to overtime this week, Kelce, 34, mentioned Butker, who has come under fire for comments made during speeches that touched on a variety of topics including politics, religion and cultural issues.
“I’ve known him for over seven years, probably eight years, and I value him as a teammate. [Chiefs quarterback] Pat [Mahomes] “He’s just a great person and a great teammate. He’s treated my friends and family that I’ve introduced him to with respect and kindness. He treats everybody the same,” the tight end said.
“His views and his [Benedictine College] “The commencement speech was his. I can’t say I agree with most or even any of it, except that he loves his family and his children. I don’t think we should judge him on his views, especially his religious views on how to live life. That’s not me.”
Butker, who won three Super Bowls with Kelsey, said in a speech at the Catholic Church that women had been “told the worst lie of all” and suggested they were more likely to be interested in getting married and having a family than in a career.
“While some of you will have successful careers in the world, for the vast majority of you, what you are most excited about is marriage and the children you will bring into this world. My beautiful wife, Isabel, will be the first to say that her life truly began when she began fulfilling her calling as a wife and mother,” he said at the time.
Kelsey then spoke about his “wonderful childhood” in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, which gave him a “broad perspective on different walks of life” and expressed gratitude for the life his parents, Ed and Donna Kelsey, gave to him and his brother, Jason Kelsey.
“I grew up in Cleveland Heights, a beautiful environment of different social classes, different religions, different races and ethnicities. That’s why I love Cleveland Heights. Cleveland Heights showed me a broad perspective, a broad perspective of different walks of life. I appreciate each and every person who lives there for their own reasons and I’ve never felt like I had to judge them based on their beliefs,” Kelsey said.
“In my family, my mom and dad provided for the family, they built the home. So they were homemakers, they were providers, they were there every day of my life. And I think that was a beautiful upbringing for me. Now, I don’t think that everyone should be like my parents, but I’m really grateful and I love them for the providers and the home they built, because I’m a different person because they were in my life.”
Kelce’s comments came days after those of Mahomes and Chiefs coach Andy Reid. Asked About Butker, 28, who is in his eighth season with Kansas City.
“I’ve known Harrison for seven years and I judge him by the character that he displays every day, which is a good person,” the three-time Super Bowl winning quarterback told reporters on Wednesday. [Butker] I said I don’t necessarily agree with that.”
“We’re a microcosm of life. Everybody comes from different places, different religions, different races. So we all get along, we respect each other’s opinions, we don’t necessarily follow them, but we respect that everybody has a right to have a say. That’s the great thing about America. And my hope is that everybody follows that.”
