On ‘Real Time,’ the comedian expressed confusion over the backlash against Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker‘s commencement speech at Benedictine College, saying, “I don’t see what the big crime is, I really don’t.”
This week, Butker faced criticism on social media for his graduation speech at the private Catholic school, where he condemned abortion, euthanasia, IVF, surrogacy, and the LGBTQ community. He also suggested that women should embrace being “homemakers.”
Maher acknowledged that Butker’s views were quite different from his own, noting the player is “religious, he loves marriage, he loves kids,”—qualities Maher has publicly stated he does not share.
“Here’s a quote of his, ‘I’ve seen it firsthand how much happier someone can be when they disregard the outside noise and move closer and closer to God’s will,’” Maher said. “Yeah, not me. I couldn’t be more not like this.”
However, Maher was puzzled by the outrage over Butker’s remarks to women. “I don’t get the thing he said, talking to women, ‘Some of you may go on to lead successful careers in the world.’ OK, that seems fairly modern,” Maher said, adding, “‘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 don’t see what the big crime is, I really don’t.”
Maher suggested this backlash exemplifies why some people are frustrated with the left. He argued that different life choices should be respected and that not everyone needs to pursue advanced degrees or careers to be considered successful.
The comedian wasn’t alone in defending Butker. On Thursday’s episode of The View, Whoopi Goldberg supported the NFL player’s right to free speech, even if she disagrees with his beliefs. “I like when people say what they need to say,” Goldberg remarked. “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 that were sitting in that audience don’t have to accept them.”
Goldberg continued, “The same way we want respect when Colin Kaepernick takes a knee, we want to give respect to people whose ideas are different from ours because the man who says he wants to be president, You-Know-Who, he says the way to act is to take away people’s right to say how they feel. We don’t want to be that. We don’t want to be those people.”
Following the online backlash, the NFL released a statement clarifying that Butker’s views “are not those of the NFL as an organization.”
Concluding his discussion on Real Time, Maher pointed out the irony in Butker’s traditional views on women’s roles clashing with the younger generation’s protests. “I find it very ironic that he’s saying, you know what, in my world, we like the women to stay at home and just have babies, and the college kids and the young people find this absolutely abhorrent, but they’re demonstrating for Hamas.”
The guests on the latest episode included Michael Eric Dyson, Nellie Bowles, and Pamela Paul.