Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker has no regrets about expressing his beliefs in a recent commencement speech and he said he has received support as well as \u201ca shocking level of hate\u201d from others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Butker spoke Friday night at the Regina Caeli Academy Courage Under Fire Gala in Nashville, Tennessee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He made his first public comments since his controversial recent commencement speech at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, where he said most women receiving degrees were probably more excited about getting married and having kids; argued some Catholic leaders were \u201cpushing dangerous gender ideologies onto the youth of America;\u201d referred to a \u201cdeadly sin sort of pride that has a month dedicated to it\u201d in an oblique reference to Pride month; and took aim at President Joe Biden<\/a>\u2019s policies, including his condemnation of the Supreme Court\u2019s reversal of the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt is now, over the past few days, my beliefs or what people think I believe have been the focus of countless discussions around the globe,\u201d Butker said Friday. \u201cAt the outset, many people expressed a shocking level of hate. But as the days went on, even those who disagreed with my viewpoints shared their support for my freedom of religion.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Butker said he understands being criticized for his performance on the field. The 28-year-old said he values his religion more than football<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s a decision I\u2019ve consciously made and one I do not regret at all,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The NFL has distanced itself from Butker’s comments. The league said the comments and \u201cviews are not those of the NFL as an organization.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes said the three-time Super Bowl winner is entitled to his beliefs, even though he doesn\u2019t always agree with him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Speaking about Butker on his “New Heights\u201d podcast, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce said he cherishes Butker as a teammate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhen it comes down to his views and what he said at (the) commencement speech, those are his,\u201d Kelce said. \u201cI can\u2019t say I agree with the majority of it or just about any of it outside of just him loving his family and his kids. And I don\u2019t think that I should judge him by his views, especially his religious views, of how to go about life, that’s just not who I am.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kelce does the podcast with his brother Jason, who recently retired after an outstanding career with the Philadelphia Eagles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n