Former ESPN anchor Sage Steele came to Kansas City Chief’s kicker Harrison Butker’s defense following the kicker’s commencement speech that caused a leftist meltdown, blasting the silence from the left over “hateful” pro-Palestine campus protests with “death to Jews” calls.
In a video posted on X, Steele said she couldn’t believe the attacks against the placekicker over his speech to the graduates at Benedictine College — when he praised his wife for being a “homemaker,” called out President Joe Biden’s support for abortion, and criticized LGBTQ “Pride month.”
“I am so saddened at the criticism that has come this man’s way just because he voiced his opinion,” Steele said. “Doesn’t mean you have to agree with everything he said, right. Diversity of thought.”
“I’ve been preaching that since long before I left ESPN and I will never stop preaching it because that is what’s right,” she added, noting that she didn’t agree with “every single thing Butker said.”
Harrison Butker….please don’t change. 🙏🏽 #diversityofthought@buttkicker7 pic.twitter.com/jx0MDEsQhi
— Sage Steele (@sagesteele) May 19, 2024
“I know women, women who are close friends of mine, who actually are quite content in life without having kids, whether it was their specific choice, they didn’t want to become a mother or they couldn’t and are now at peace with it…” Steele continued. “For me that would not have been the case. And I am so grateful and blessed that I am a mother times three. And that by far is my best accomplishment and something I’m most proud of. The best job I’ll ever, have being a mother.”
Steele then asked why it was acceptable to judge one person based on his opinion, calling “so many parts of [Butker’s speech] beautiful” and blasting the NFL for releasing a statement affirming that, as an organization — one that represents thousands of people — it didn’t “align with” Butker’s views.
“How cool is it as a woman to hear your spouse praise you and have such gratitude towards you?” the former sports anchor said. “That’s a beautiful thing. Isn’t that pro woman? That’s the way I took it.”
“I’m just saddened at all of the negativity that surrounds him,” she added. “And how about the hypocrisy. Where were all these people on college campuses over the last couple of months…if you are hateful towards others and doing [calls] ‘death to Jews’ and being threatening towards Jewish people. Where were all of you with your statements then denouncing the pure hatred?”
“Instead you are denouncing a man who is uplifting women?” Steele continued. “I just don’t get it. 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.”