Full List of celebrities supporting Harrison Butker

It’s been more than two weeks since Harrison Butker’s controversial commencement speech at Kansas’s Benedictine College, but the football star continues to spark conversations online.

The 28-year-old kicker came under fire for his comments about abortion, fertility treatments, gender roles and the LGBTQ+ community during his speech, which he delivered at the Catholic liberal arts college on May 11.

A petition demanding his removal from the Kansas City Chiefs has received over 225,000 signatures. Despite some of the criticism, Butker does have a few famous faces in his corner, while the speech appears to have boosted the three-time Super Bowl champion’s social media following.

Here is the full list of celebrities expressing support for Butker.

Patrick Mahomes

During a workout session on Wednesday, the quarterback defended his Chiefs teammate, despite saying he held different opinions on several issues.

“There’s certain things that he said that I don’t necessarily agree with, but I understand the person that he is and he is trying to do whatever he can to lead people in the right direction,” the three-time MVP winner told The Athletic’s Nate Taylor.

“And that might not be the same values as I have, but at the same time, I’m going to judge him by the character that he shows every single day. That’s a great person and we’ll continue to move along and try to help build each other up to make ourselves better every single day.”

Andy Reid

Chiefs head coach echoed Mahomes’ comments, telling reporters on Wednesday: “We all respect each other’s opinions. We all have a voice.”

“‘Everybody is from different areas, different religions, different races, and so we all get along, we all respect each other’s opinions,’ the 66-year-old said. “It’s a great thing about America, man.”

Reid believes that Butker wasn’t “speaking ill to women,” but added “he has his opinions and we all respect that.”

Whoopi Goldberg

During the May 16 episode of The View, the Oscar winner argued that Butker has the right to express his beliefs, even if they are controversial.

The 68-year-old actor emphasized the importance of upholding free speech, comparing Butker’s situation to that of former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who faced criticism for taking the knee during the national anthem in 2016.

“I like when people say what they need to say,” Goldberg said. “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 Ghost star also slammed calls to remove Butker from the Chiefs.

“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,” Goldberg continued.

“Because it does happen to us. It happens to us all the time. That is why I am standing up for him.”

Patricia Heaton

In a video posted to Instagram on Sunday, the Everybody Loves Raymond star said she “doesn’t understand why everybody’s knickers are in a twist” over Butker’s commencement speech.

The 66-year-old actress urged critics to “calm down,” before highlighting that the audience applauded and gave Butker a standing ovation, suggesting that his views were well-received by those in attendance.

Heaton—who is both a Catholic and a working mother—said that Butker has a right to express his opinions, telling followers “he’s not a monster for stating what he believes.”

In his speech, Butker expressed his beliefs that a woman’s “most important title” should be “homemaker” rather than in the workplace, telling female graduates they’d been told had “the most diabolical lies.”

“I find nothing offensive in what he said, even though my life is very different,” Heaton continued. “You do you and he’ll do him.”

Tomi Lahren

Lahren criticized the backlash against Butker, defending the kicker on X, formerly Twitter.

In a post shared on May 16, the OutKick host slammed “cancel culture woke vultures,” telling Butker’s critics to “pound sand.”

“Yall yammer about ‘inclusion’ but try to cancel anyone and everyone who doesn’t go along with your pronoun and pride mafia BS,” the conservative commentator wrote. Butker was criticized for describing LGBTQ+ Pride month celebrations as a “deadly sin.”

Bill Maher

During a recent episode of Real Time with Bill Maher, the comedian shared his confusion over the outrage directed at Butker.

Although he said he and the Chiefs kicker hold different opinions, Maher told the audience: “I don’t see what the big crime is.”

“I can’t express how much this guy is not like me,” the 68-year-old said. “He’s religious. He loves marriage. He loves kids … And he’s now history’s greatest monster?”

Maher said the backlash against Butker was indicative of a broader cultural issue, where certain opinions are increasingly marginalized.

“Lots of people in this country are like this,” the Emmy winner continued. “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 be a choice too?”

Lou Holtz

The former Notre Dame football coach appeared on Fox & Friends on Tuesday, where he praised Butker’s remarks.

Holtz, who is a devout Christian, called Butker’s speech “courageous.”

“He wasn’t talking to an abortion clinic, he was talking to a Catholic university,” he told hosts Will Cain, Rachel Campos-Duffy and Pete Hegseth.

The 87-year-old, who has previously delivered commencement speeches at Benedictine, said he “agreed completely” with Butker’s views on gender roles.

“Thank you [Harrison Butker] for standing strong in your faith values,” Holtz said. “Your commencement speech at Benedictine College showed courage and conviction, and I admire that. Don’t give in.”

Sage Steele

In a video posted to YouTube on Monday, the former ESPN anchor said she was “saddened” by the backlash against Butker.

The 51-year-old stressed the importance of “diversity of thought,” and while she did not agree with all of Butker’s statements, she found parts of his speech beautiful, particularly his praise for women who choose to be homemakers.

Steele—a Catholic and mother-of-three—called raising her children “her greatest accomplishment,” and condemned the NFL for its statement on the backlash. Following Butker’s speech, the league said that Butker’s views “are not those of the NFL,” and that the organization is “steadfast in our commitment to inclusion.”

“How cool is it as a woman, to hear your spouse praise you, and have such gratitude towards you?” Steele said. “I’m just saddened at all of the negativity that surrounds him.”