“Everybody Just Calm Down”- Patricia Heaton defends Harrison Butker following his controversial graduation speech

The Middle star Patricia Heaton showed support for Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker following his controversial speech last month during his graduation at Benedictine College on Saturday, May 11. The kicker's comments about women did not sit well with a lot of people but the actress took to Instagram on Saturday, May 18, to defend him with a video captioned:

"Everybody just calm down."

During his speech, Harrison Butker guessed that most women graduates were more excited about marriage and kids than having a career. He also criticized IVF, surrogacy, birth control, and abortion.

Patricia Heaton stated in her video that Butker was simply espousing his own opinions and Catholic doctrine, which the kicker was allowed to do.

Patricia Heaton compared her life to Harrison Butker's words (Image via Instagram/@patriciaheaton)

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"It’s his opinion" - Patricia Heaton defends Harrison Butker

Amidst all the condemnation surrounding Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker's controversial commencement speech, veteran actress Patricia Heaton defended the kicker's comments on her latest Instagram video. The actress did not understand why everyone's knickers were in a twist.

Heaton noted how the audience gave a standing ovation to Butker at the end of his speech, which, according to her, meant that they liked what he had to say. The actress stated:

"The guy is espousing his own opinions and Catholic doctrine. So what? It’s his opinion. He can have one. He’s allowed. He’s not a monster for stating what he believes. He went after bishops much more than he went after women or what women’s choices are or what he thinks they should be. So, I don’t understand."

Patricia Heaton even compared her life to Harrison Butker's speech. She talked about being a catholic woman who worked through her kids' childhood and believed that God opened those doors for her. She continued:

"Thankfully, it was a schedule that allowed me to also be a full-time mom, basically. I find nothing offensive about what he said even though my life is very different. He might even look at my life and say that’s not the way it should be. That’s OK. That’s his opinion."

Heaton was curious as to why people got so offended. According to the actress, if people made certain choices that worked out for them and their families, it was great, even if those choices differed from Butker's opinions. The actress asked everyone to relax. She said:

"You do you. He’ll do him".

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"I think it is you, the women, who have had the most diabolical lies told to you"- Harrison Butker

Harrison Butker's commencement speech earlier this month ruffled a lot of feathers. The Kansas City Chiefs Kicker expressed strong opinions but it was his opinions on stay-at-home mothers that got the most applause as well as made the most noise.

Butker, who congratulated the female graduates, said that he wanted to speak directly to them. The kicker stated:

"I think it is you, the women, who have had the most diabolical lies told to you. How many of you are sitting here now about to cross this stage and are thinking about all the promotions and titles you are going to get in your career?"

Butker added:

"Some of you may go on to lead successful careers in the world, but I would venture to guess that the majority of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into this world."

Harrison Butker vouched that his wife Isabelle would agree with him stating that her life truly started when she leaned into her vocation and became a wife and a mother. He attributed all of his success to his wife, whom he met in band class and later embraced what according to him was one of the most important titles of all, "homemaker."

Butker mentioned how his wife's dream of having a career may not have come true but she never had any regrets about that. Apart from that, Butker also claimed that there was nothing natural about "Catholic birth control".

According to Butker, men set the tone of the culture, and "disorder, dysfunction, and chaos" set in when they are absent from the household.

Harrison and Isabelle Butker are the parents to two children (Image via Instagram/@buttkicker7)

Harrison Butker encouraged men to be unapologetically masculine and fight against their emasculation. The kicker further condemned President Joe Biden, "dangerous gender ideologies", "degenerate cultural values", IVF, surrogacy, euthanasia, and abortion.