Former ESPN Anchor Defends Harrison Butker, Criticizes Left’s Silence on ‘Hateful’ Campus Protests. Former ESPN anchor Sage Steele has come to the defense of Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker, who faced backlash for his commencement speech at Benedictine College. In the speech, Butker praised his wife for being a “homemaker,” criticized President Joe Biden’s support for abortion, and spoke out against LGBTQ “Pride month.”
Steele posted a video on X, expressing her sadness at the criticism Butker faced for voicing his opinions. She emphasized the importance of diversity of thought and stated that she didn’t agree with everything Butker said, but believed he had the right to express his beliefs.
Steele, a mother of three, shared her own experiences and praised Butker for uplifting women in his speech. She questioned the hypocrisy of those who denounced Butker’s speech but remained silent on “hateful” pro-Palestine campus protests with “death to Jews” calls.
The NFL faced criticism for releasing a statement affirming that, as an organization representing thousands of people, it didn’t “align with” Butker’s views. Steele called out the NFL for its hypocrisy, stating that it was acceptable to judge one person based on his opinion but not others who have made hateful statements.
“I am so saddened at the criticism that has come this man’s way just because he voiced his opinion,” Steele said.
Steele’s defense of Butker has sparked a wider conversation about free speech, diversity of thought, and the importance of respecting differing opinions. Many have praised Steele for her courage in speaking out against the backlash, while others have criticized her for supporting Butker’s views.
The incident has highlighted the importance of respecting differing opinions and the dangers of cancel culture. Steele’s defense of Butker is a refreshing reminder of the importance of standing up for what we believe in and respecting others’ rights to do the same.
As Steele said, “Harrison Butker has a right to believe what he wants to believe. Harrison Butker, thank you for your courage. Don’t change. We need you.”
The controversy surrounding Butker’s speech and Steele’s defense has sparked a much-needed conversation about the importance of free speech and the need to listen to and respect others’ views, even if we disagree with them. In a time where cancel culture and social media outrage can quickly silence individuals for their opinions, Steele’s defense of Butker is a vital reminder of the importance of standing up for what we believe in and respecting others’ rights to do the same.
The incident also highlights the double standard of the left, who claim to be champions of free speech and diversity of thought but only when it aligns with their own views. The hypocrisy of the NFL and others who have denounced Butker’s speech while remaining silent on hateful protests is glaring.
Steele’s defense of Butker is a call to action for all of us to stand up for what we believe in and respect others’ rights to do the same. We must not let cancel culture and social media outrage silence us. We must continue to have open and honest conversations, even when we disagree.
In addition, the incident highlights the importance of respecting individuals’ religious beliefs and values. Butker’s speech was rooted in his Christian faith, and his views on abortion and LGBTQ issues are shared by many people of faith. Steele’s defense of Butker is a reminder that we must respect individuals’ religious beliefs and values, even if we disagree with them.
