Whoopi Goldberg, the famed panelist on The View, has taken a surprising stance in defense of Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker's controversial remarks during his commencement speech at Benedictine College on May 11. Despite the backlash Butker has faced for encouraging all women to become "homemaker[s]," Goldberg argued that the NFL player is entitled to express his beliefs, especially given the Catholic context of the college.
During the Thursday, May 16 episode of The View, Goldberg addressed the ongoing controversy, stating, "Listen, I like when people say what they need to say. He's at a Catholic college, he's a staunch Catholic. These are his beliefs and he's welcome to them. I don't have to believe them. I don't have to accept them. The ladies who were sitting in that audience do not have to accept them."
Goldberg, 68, went on to compare Butker's situation to that of former NFL player Colin Kaepernick, who famously kneeled during the national anthem in 2016 to protest racial injustice. "The same way we want to represent when Colin Kaepernick takes a knee, we want to give respect to people whose ideas are different than ours," Goldberg said.
The Sister Act star emphasized that while she may not agree with Butker's views, she believes he has the right to express them without fear of losing his job. "When you say to somebody, 'I don't like what you said and I'm going to get your job taken away because you disagree with me,' for me, that is an issue. Because it does happen to us. It happens to us all the time. That is why I am standing up for him," Goldberg explained.
Goldberg's co-host, Sara Haines, 46, chimed in, expressing both agreement and disagreement with Goldberg's perspective. Haines acknowledged the complexity of the situation, highlighting the tension between respecting individual beliefs and the potential impact of those beliefs on others.
During his graduation speech, Butker directly addressed the female graduates, saying, "For the ladies present today, congratulations on an amazing accomplishment. I want to speak directly to you briefly because I think it is you, the women, who have had the most diabolical lies told to you." He went on to suggest that while some women may lead successful careers, he believed the majority would be most excited about marriage and having children.
The NFL has since distanced itself from Butker's comments, with Jonathan Beane, the league's senior vice president and chief diversity and inclusion officer, stating, "Harrison Butker gave a speech in his personal capacity. His views are not those of the NFL as an organization. The NFL is steadfast in our commitment to inclusion, which only makes our league stronger."
Goldberg's defense of Butker has sparked debate among viewers and critics alike, with some praising her commitment to free speech and others questioning the potential harm of giving a platform to controversial views. The discussion highlights the ongoing challenges of navigating diverse perspectives and the line between personal beliefs and professional responsibilities.
As the controversy surrounding Butker's speech continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the NFL and the wider public will respond to Goldberg's stance. The debate serves as a reminder of the complex intersections between personal beliefs, public platforms, and the potential consequences of expressing controversial opinions in an increasingly polarized society.
