Whoopi Goldberg expressed on ABC’s “The View” this Thursday that Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker is entitled to freely speak about his beliefs under the First Amendment. This discussion came up in light of his recent commencement speech at Benedictine College.
Goldberg noted, “The NFL stated that he spoke in his personal capacity and clarified that his views do not reflect those of the NFL. I appreciate hearing people express themselves. He was speaking at a Catholic college and he is a devout Catholic himself. Those are his views, and he has every right to them. It isn’t necessary for me to agree or accept them. Likewise, the women in the audience are not obligated to accept them. Just as we demand respect for actions like Colin Kaepernick’s protest, we should also respect differing views.”
She continued, “Remember, there’s a presidential hopeful who suggests silencing people’s opinions as a form of control. That’s not something we aspire to emulate. I’m fine with him saying what he wishes. Whether or not the audience takes his advice, they’ll either be happy following it or happy doing their own thing. I stand by that perspective.”
