Patricia Heaton on Harrison Butker’s Commencement Speech: ‘God Has Used My Life’
By Movieguide® Contributor
EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND actress Patricia Heaton spoke up about the recent outrage against Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker‘s commencement speech at Benedictine College.
During Butker’s speech he “extolled the virtues of motherhood as he encouraged female graduates and other women in the audience to ‘disregard the outside noise’ that encourages them to prioritize their careers above everything else.”
“The majority of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into this world,” the kicker said, addressing the women who were graduating.
“I can tell you that my beautiful wife, Isabelle, would be the first to say that her life truly started when she began living her vocation as a wife and as a mother,” he added. “I’m on the stage today and able to be the man I am because I have a wife who leans into her vocation.”
“I’m beyond blessed with the many talents God has given me, but it cannot be overstated that all of my success is made possible because a girl I met in band class back in middle school would convert to the faith, become my wife, and embrace one of the most important titles of all: homemaker,” Butker continued.
Heaton shared her views about his speech.
She said, “I am a Catholic woman who worked through my kids’ childhood, and I believe that God opened those doors for me. Thankfully, it was a schedule that also allowed me to be a full-time mom, basically.”
She continued: “I find nothing offensive about what he said, even though my life is very different, and he might look at my life and say it’s not the way it should be, that’s okay. That’s his opinion. God has used my life.”
“I don’t understand why everybody’s knickers are in a twist. He gave a commencement speech,” Heaton said. “The audience applauded twice during the speech and gave him a standing ovation at the end, so clearly they enjoyed what he was saying.”
Despite the backlash Butker has faced, he’s received support as well. His jersey sales have skyrocketed since the speech.
Movieguide® previously reported on the commencement speech Butker gave at the Georgia Institute of Technology in 2023:
Butker started, “I am someone not much older than all of you, yet I’ve been asked to speak, not because I am a great orator or because I have a number of impressive accolades. Well, I guess I do have two Super Bowl rings. I just happen to be blessed by God to be really good at kicking a funny-shaped ball between two yellow posts.”
Butker touched on success and that “none of it will matter if you are alone and devoid of purpose.”
He continued, “Some of the most important people who have ever lived remain unknown and their stories have yet to be told. But they still used their God-given talents to do great things and change the world. What a profound example, to be motivated by our purpose rather than the current spotlight on the world.”
