5 famous people defending Harrison Butker amid commencement speech backlash
2. Sage Steele
Former ESPN personality and podcaster Sage Steele, a practicing Catholic, defended Butker in a video posted on YouTube Monday. “Why are we judging one person based on his opinion?” she asked. “Why did the NFL feel the need to release a statement basically saying they don’t align with Harrison’s views?”
Steele also expressed disappointment that “Change.org [came] out with a petition to try to get Harrison Butker fired because of his opinions.”
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She added, “I thought so many parts of it were so beautiful.”
Steele specifically cheered the parts of the speech in which Butker praised his wife. “I’m just saddened at all of the negativity that surrounds him,” she said.
“Where were all these people on college campuses over the last couple of months?” she inquired of his critics. Noting that several recent protests on college campuses were “pro-Palestine,” Steele lamented that many protests were calling for “death to Jews” and asked, “where were all of you with your statements then denouncing that pure hatred?”
“Instead, you’re denouncing a man who’s uplifting women? I just don’t get it. I don’t get it and I’m sad.”
Steele concluded her video by declaring, “Harrison Butker, thank you for your courage. Don’t change, we need you.”
