Bill Maher Defends Harrison Butker With Simple Message
Bill Maher doesn't think Harrison Butker did anything wrong.
The Kansas City Chiefs kicker has been taking nonstop fire since giving a commencement speech at Benedictine College. The devout Christian promoted traditional family values, encouraged people to get married and have kids, claimed many women find true happiness as a mother over working and also took shots at Joe Biden.
The backlash has been intense and unrelenting, and it almost all centers on Butker's comments suggesting being a homemaker is what will bring peak happiness for a married woman - a belief many feel.
Well, Bill Maher has no interest in piling on. In fact, he's not sure what Butker did to even get people all spun up.
Bill Maher defends Harrison Butker.
"I don't see what the big crime is. I really don't, and I think this is part of the problem people have with the left. Is that lots of people in the country are like this. Like, he's saying, 'Some of you may go on to lead successful careers, but a lot of you are excited about this other way that everybody used to be.' And, now, can't that just be a choice too? And I feel like they feel very put upon. Like, there's only one way to be a good person, and that's to get an advanced degree from one of those a**hole factories like Harvard," Maher told his audience Friday night on "Real Time with Bill Maher."
You can watch his full comments below, and hit me with your thoughts at David.Hookstead@outkick.com.
It certainly does seem like the tide might be turning in this situation. The first few days of backlash were brutal for Butker. Multiple petitions went viral demanding the Chiefs kick him to the curb, the official Kansas City X account doxxed where he lives, the reactions on social media were insane, the NFL released a statement condemning the speech and it seemed like Butker was public enemy number one.
However, people are now pushing back. The Hunt family - who own the Chiefs - came out in support of Butker, Chiefs star Chris Jones did the same, his jersey sales skyrocketed, all the women's jerseys are sold out and many people with large platforms have come to his defense. Maher is just the latest.
People are finally pushing back, and Maher's point is a simple one. Butker didn't tell people what they had to do. He shared his views with a Catholic audience. It's the side shouting him down who seems interested in dictating how people live.
Harrison Butker gets some support from Bill Maher. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
The important thing to remember is that you can agree with Butker or you can disagree with him. This is America. We all have freedom of thought, but the idea he did anything wrong is simply not true. Props to Maher for speaking some common sense instead of just giving into the outrage machine. Let me know your thoughts at David.Hookstead@outkick.com.