Patricia Heaton Defends Harrison Butker Amid Controversial Speech Backlash

Everybody Loves Raymond actress Patricia Heaton shared her thoughts on Kansas City Chiefs player Harrison Butker’s divisive commencement speech at Benedictine College and backlash he’s faced.

Patricia Heaton is in Harrison Butker’s corner.

The Everybody Loves Raymond alum reacted to the Kansas City Chiefs kicker’s commencement speech at Benedictine College May 11, where he shared his belief that women should be in the home and not the workplace.

“I don’t know why everybody’s knickers are in a twist,” Patricia said in a May 18 Instagram video. “He gave a commencement speech. The audience applauded twice and gave him a standing ovation at the end, so clearly they enjoyed what he was saying. The guy is espousing his own opinions and Catholic doctrine, so what?”

“It’s his opinion,” the 66-year-old continued. “He can have one. He’s allowed. He’s not a monster for stating what he believes.”

Patricia—who is a Catholic woman who worked throughout her kids’ childhood—didn’t find his statements offensive, even if they don’t align with her lifestyle.

“I’m just curious as to why people get ‘offended,’” the Beethoven actress admitted. “If you have made choices in your life and you feel those are the right choices and you feel comfortable and they’re working out for you and your family, great. If they’re different from his, that’s great. You do you. He’ll do him.”

The Middle star concluded her video, “Relax, everybody.”

Among the topics discussed during his speech at the private university in Atchison, Kan., Harrison said that he believed the female students at graduation would likely be more excited about their marriage and children than their future careers.

He also noted that he believes his wife Isabelle Butker, with whom he shares two kids, would say her life truly began when she became a wife and mother.

And Patricia isn’t the only star to give her two cents about Harrison’s divisive speech. In fact, journalist Maria Shriver slammed his sentiments, while Whoopi Goldberg defended his right to say what he wanted.

“These are his beliefs and he’s welcome to him,” Whoopi said on The View May 16. “I don’t have to believe them, right? I don’t have to accept them. The ladies that were sitting in that audience do not have to accept them.”

Keep reading to see who else reacted to Harrison’s eyebrow-raising speech.