Ellen DeGeneres generated some controversy when people became unhappy that she was spotted watching an NFL game between the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers alongside former president George W. Bush.
DeGeneres was at the game with her wife, Portia de Rossi, after being invited by Dallas Cowboys Executive Vice President and Chief Brand Officer Charlotte Jones.
But what people remained focused on was that DeGeneres was smiling and laughing it up with a politician who previously attempted to make gay marriage unconstitutional. DeGeneres, however, was unbothered.
Late Monday night, DeGeneres released a video explaining how she landed in the box next to Bush and why she will not let political views stop her from being friends with other people.
“People were upset, they thought why is a gay Hollywood liberal sitting next to a conservative Republican president,” DeGeneres said. “Here’s the thing, I’m friends with George Bush, in fact I’m friends with a lot of people who don’t share the same beliefs that I have. We’re all different and I think we’ve forgotten that that’s OK that we’re all different. For instance, I wish people wouldn’t wear fur. I don’t like it, but I’m friends with people who wear fur. I’m friends with people who are furry, as a matter of a fact.
“Just because I don’t agree with someone on everything doesn’t mean that I’m not going to be friends with them. When I say be kind to one another I don’t mean only the people that think the same way that you do, I mean be kind to everyone. Doesn’t matter.”
It’s a great message for the general public.
In today’s day and age, people are blinded by politics which have become more divisive than ever and they have been creating even more fractures among the population. Hopefully, people listened to what Ellen had to say and can attempt to put that philosophy into their everyday lives.