Harrison Butker Compared to Colin Kaepernick as Comedian Whoopi Goldberg Defends Chiefs Kicker’s Contentious Speech

The Chiefs are in the spotlight again! However, this time, it has nothing to do with Travis Kelce or even quarterback, Patrick Mahomes. Instead, the team’s kicker, Harrison Butker, found his way to the center of a social scandal. Earlier this week, the 28-year-old had the world doing a double-take when he told female graduates that being a “homemaker” would be the most important role they would play in life during a speech at Benedictine College, Kansas.

While Butker’s speech caused quite an uproar online, there seemed to be some people who defended the kicker’s views but did not entirely support them. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), it was revealed that Whoopi Goldberg had also given her two cents on the Chiefs’ athlete’s take during an episode of The View. The Hollywood star had compared the 28-year-old to the former 49ers’ quarterback, Colin Kaepernick.

The 68-year-old had stated, “I like when people say what they need to say. He’s at a Catholic college, he’s a Catholic. These are his beliefs and he’s welcome to them.” In tow with her neutral stance, Goldberg also added, “I don’t have to accept them,” before saying that she was “OK with him saying whatever he said.” Although not everyone seemed to agree with the Sister Act star, she wound up making a valid comparison to explain her stance on Butker’s speech.

Goldberg ended up comparing the kicker to the quarterback, Kaepernick by saying, “In the same way, we want respect when Colin Kaepernick takes a knee, we want to give respect to people whose ideas are different from ours.” Although everyone seems to be sharing their thoughts on the matter, the Kansas City Chiefs have stayed rather quiet for the moment.

The NFL addresses Harrison Butker’s commencement speech

Just a couple of days ago, a clip of Harrison Butker’s graduation made its way online. Although most people had expected it to be a wholesome celebration, things took a sudden turn when the Chiefs’ kicker began the commencement speech. Apart from suggesting that women should be “homemakers,” the 28-year-old also made statements about the LGBTQ community that sent ripples throughout the internet and led to netizens even signing petitions to try and get the kicker fired.

While his team has been keeping tight-lipped for the last couple of days, the NFL chose to address his comments. According to reports from PEOPLE, the league’s senior VP, Jonathan Beane stated that the athlete had given “a speech in his personal capacity” and said that his views were not a reflection on them. He also confirmed that the league was “steadfast” in its “commitment to inclusion,” which only seemed to make them stronger.

With the NFL setting the record straight, fans are still waiting to see what the Chiefs have to say about Butker’s recent speech. After all, it not only happened while he was part of the team but was also down in KC to further his education. So far, Maren Morris, Hoda Kotb, Jenna Bush Hager, most of social media, and even students present at the ceremony have reacted to the speech, and are waiting to see how the story unravels.