Former President George W. Bush has weighed in on the controversy sparked by Ellen DeGeneres sitting with him at a football game over the weekend, applauding his celebrity pal for how she handled the situation.
In a statement to USA Today, a spokesman said Bush and his wife were thrilled to spend time with DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi at the Dallas Cowboys-Green Bay Packers game Sunday.
Bush also appreciated DeGeneres' comments about respecting one another, and "especially on being kind to folks with views that are different than your own," TMZ reported.
Addressing the topic Tuesday, DeGeneres told viewers she would not let a difference in opinion stop her from forming close bonds with other people.
"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," she said, according to Fox News. "We're all different and I think that we've forgotten that that's okay that we're all different."
DeGeneres acknowledged that people were upset to see her alongside Bush, laughing and enjoying their time at the game together. But friendship should be shared among all people, not just the ones who held similar thoughts and ideas.
"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," she said.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.