Patricia Heaton defends Harrison Butker’s inaugural speech

Patricia Heaton joined Kansas City Chiefs heiress Gracie Hunt in defending kicker Harrison Butker after his sexist and homophobic commencement speech.

Everybody Loves Raymond alumnus. – he said in a video on Instagram On Saturday, she was confused by the outrage Butker received online because “the audience applauded twice during his speech and gave him a standing ovation at the end.”

Heaton, 66, said the NFL player, who spoke at Benedictine College in Kansas on May 11, had every right to share his doctrine at the private Catholic school.

“So what? That’s his opinion. He can have one,” she said. “He’s not a monster if he says what he believes.

“He was courting bishops much more than women, what women’s choices were or what he thought they should be – so I don’t understand.”

The Emmy winner spoke about her Christian beliefs as a working mother, telling viewers she found “nothing offensive” in Butker’s comments, although she knew he could “even look at my life and say it shouldn’t be like this.”

“If you’ve made choices in your life and you feel like they’re the right choices and you feel comfortable and they’re working for you and your family, then great,” she said. “And if they’re different from his, great.”

During the inflammatory speech, the 28-year-old professional athlete described Pride Month as a symbol of “deadly sins” and told women that their “most important title” would be “housewife.”

“Some of you may have successful careers around the world, but I would venture to guess that most of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into this world,” he said.

The opening speech drew the ire of the NFL, journalist Maria Shriver and other football players.

“As a girl dad, I will do everything in my power to create the best world for my daughter to live in, one where there is no toxic masculinity,” free agent Isaac Rochell shared in a statement via Instagram Stories.

“As men and husbands, it is our responsibility, like that of our wives, to support the career aspirations of our partners.”