Papa Kelce Shows Support to Harrison Butker After Sons Jason & Travis Kelce Backed Up Chiefs Kicker Over Controversial Remarks

The storm still hasn’t settled around Harrison Butker‘s controversial speech. The kicker delivered some polarizing opinions about the LGBTQ+ community and women’s role in society. In the maelstrom that ensued, his Chiefs‘ teammates were pressed for comments, and the latest duo to break their silence was the Kelce brothers.

While Travis and Jason have maintained that they don’t agree with many of the views presented in Butker’s commencement speech, both have advocated for his right to express his views and opinions. Recently, Papa Kelce, Ed, jumped onto the Butker’s support train as well.

Travis and Jason Kelce break their silence

On their ‘New Heights’ podcast, Kansas City’s tight end defended Butker as his teammate, “I’ve known him for seven-plus years, probably, eight-plus years. And I cherish him as a teammate.” Travis further clarified his stance on the specific views presented by the kicker, “When it comes down to his views and what he said at the St. Benedictine’s commencement speech, those are his. I can’t say I agree with the majority of it or just about any of it, outside of just him loving his family and his kids…”

Jason, too, expressed a similar line of thoughts as his brother. He said that while there were some views on family values with which he agrees, the center also expressed his disagreement with Butker’s take on women’s primal roles being “homemakers.” These comments got an online troll calling the retired NFL star a “hypocrite,” calling Kylie a homemaker, but the older Kelce had the perfect comeback, establishing equality with his wife.

Ed seems to agree with his son’s point of view and shared two articles referencing Travis and Jason’s statements on his Facebook page. Butker’s speech generated divided views all around, with some NFL entities defending his right to expression while others expressing their dissent.

NFL’s reactions to Harrison Butker’s statements

The Super Bowl champion was invited to deliver the commencement speech at Kansas’ Benedictine College on May 11, where he had some specific things to say to the female graduates. “Some of you may go on to lead successful careers in the world, but I would venture to guess that the majority of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into this world. I can tell you that my beautiful wife Isabelle would be the first to say that her life truly started when she started living her vocation as a wife and as a mother.” Butker further compared the Pride month to a “deadly sin.”

The NFL’s senior VP, Jonathan Beane, distanced the league from the kicker’s opinions, saying, “His views are not those of the NFL as an organization.” Commissioner Roger Goodell echoed the sentiment and quoted “diversity of opinions,” in America as what makes the “society better.” Kansas City’s HC Andy Reid also took a similar route in his reaction to the speech. “We’re a microcosm of life here, from different areas, different religions, races, and so we all get along, and we all respect each other’s opinions,” the head coach said. “We respect everybody to have a voice, that’s the great thing about America.”

Patrick Mahomes didn’t comment directly about the views presented; rather, he defended his teammate’s character. “I’ve known him for seven years. I judge him by the character he shows every single day, and that’s a good person,” the QB said. “…We’re not always going to agree and there’s certain things that he said that I don’t agree with, but I understand the person [who] he is and [that] he’s trying to do whatever he can to lead people in the right direction.”

Social media is still swirling in the discourse surrounding Harrison Butker’s divisive comments about women and the LGBTQ+ community. Whether this controversy will affect the fans’ steadfast support towards their favorite team still remains to be seen.