Patricia Heaton, star of the sitcoms "Everybody Loves Raymond" and "The Middle," came to the defense of Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker in an Instagram post on Sunday.
"Everybody just calm down," the actress wrote.
Butker is under fire from the left over his May 11 commencement speech at Benedictine College, a Catholic institution in Atchison, Kansas.
In his address, the NFL star criticized "diversity, equity and inclusion" efforts as "tyranny," called out President Joe Biden for supporting abortion and suggested that graduates would find greater fulfillment through marriage and motherhood than in career pursuits.
He also said the students should take “pride” in their institution -- "not the deadly sins sort of pride that has an entire month dedicated to it, but the true, God-centered pride that is cooperating with the holy ghost to glorify him."
Butker tipped practically every holy cow the left has -- and was met with a fierce backlash.
Even the NFL distanced itself from his comments, saying in a statement on Thursday, "Harrison Butker gave a speech in his personal capacity. His views are not those of the NFL as an organization."
In her Instagram post about the kicker's comments, Heaton said, "I don't understand why everybody's knickers are in a twist."
"He gave a commencement speech," the Catholic actress 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."
"The guy is espousing his own opinions and Catholic doctrine -- um, so what? It's his opinion. He can have one. He's allowed. He's not a monster for stating what he believes," she said.
Heaton said that although she worked when her children were little, "I find nothing offensive about what he said."
"If you have made choices in your life and you feel those are the right choices and you're comfortable and they're working out for you and your family -- great. And if they're different from his, that's great," she said.
"You do you. He'll do him and his family. Relax, everybody," the actress said.
