Whoopi Goldberg's Controversial Response To Harrison Butker Sparks Conversation

Following the backlash Harrison Butker received for his graduation speech, Whoopi Goldberg is speaking out to support the NFL player.

As The Blast previously reported, the Kansas City Chiefs player's 20-minute commencement speech at Benedictine College addressed various social issues, including gender roles, LGBTQ+ rights, and abortion. However, his comments sparked controversy.

Harrison Butker Delivers Controversial Graduation Speech

"As a group, you witnessed firsthand how bad leaders who don't stay in their lane can have a negative impact on society," Butker began while addressing the 2020 pandemic. "While COVID might have played a large role throughout your formative years, it is not unique. Bad policies and poor leadership have negatively impacted major life issues."

He added, "Things like abortion, IVF, surrogacy, euthanasia, as well as a growing support for degenerate cultural values in media, all stem from the pervasiveness of disorder."

"Our own nation is led by a man who publicly and proudly proclaims his Catholic faith, but at the same time is delusional enough to make the Sign of the Cross during a pro- abortion rally," the NFL kicker continued. "He has been so vocal in his support for the murder of innocent babies that I'm sure to many people it appears that you can be both Catholic and pro-choice."

What Did Whoopi Goldberg Say?

During Thursday's episode of 'The View,' Whoopi Goldberg and the rest of the crew discussed the backlash Harrison Butker has received for his graduation commencement speech.

"Listen, I like when people say what they need to say," Goldberg said on the show. "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 who were sitting in that audience do not have to accept them."

"The same way we want to represent when Colin Kaepernick takes a knee, we want to give respect to people whose ideas are different than ours," she added.

Whoopi Goldberg Is 'Okay' With What Harrison Butker Said

The actress then admitted she is "okay with" the NFL player saying "whatever he says."

"And the women who are sitting there, if they take his advice, good for them, they’ll be happy. If they don’t, good for them, they’ll be happy in a different way," she said. "I have the right to say what I say, he has the right to say what he says."

"When you say to somebody, ‘I don’t like what you said and I’m going to get your job taken away because you disagree with me,’ for me, that is an issue. Because it does happen to us. It happens to us all the time," she continued. "That is why I am standing up for him."

Fans React To Whoopi Goldberg's Response To Harrison Butker's Speech

Others, however, were not happy with Whoopi Goldberg's take. "I can’t believe I’m saying this, but Whoopi Goldberg defended Harrison Butker and totally nailed it," one user wrote.

"Well, I guess Hell just froze over because I agree completely with Whoopi Goldberg on this take," another said.

"Of all people in America, who would have believed Whoopi Goldberg would have the most poignant and rational thoughts on Harrison Butker's speech?" a third asked. "Well, here we are!"

"Whoopi Goldberg’s defense of Harrison Butker was pleasantly unexpected," one X user said.

Harrison Butker: 'Being Catholic Alone Doesn't Cut It'

In addition to gender roles, the LGBTQ community, and COVID-19, the NFL player also discussed what it means to be Catholic.

"From the man behind the COVID lockdowns to the people pushing dangerous gender ideologies onto the youth of America, they all have a glaring thing in common. They are Catholic. This is an important reminder that being Catholic alone doesn't cut it," he said. "It is safe to say that over the past few years, I have gained quite the reputation for speaking my mind."

He added. "I never envisioned myself, nor wanted, to have this sort of a platform, but God has given it to me, so I have no other choice but to embrace it and preach more hard truths about accepting your lane and staying in it."

As a reminder, the speech occurred at a catholic and conservative college.