Chatshow legend and LGBTQ rights advocate Ellen DeGeneres has defended enjoying a football game with former US President George W. Bush. She says she believes in being “kind to everyone”, even those who hold different views.
DeGeneres and wife Portia de Rossi were spotted on camera sitting alongside Bush on Sunday at a Dallas Cowboys game. The couple were sat next Bush and his wife, Laura, in the VIP stand.
The unexpected coupling – DeGeneres and Bush were seen talking and laughing together – was met with some surprise on social media. Many users blasted DeGeneres for socializing with the Republican politician.
During his time as President, Bush did little – if anything – for LGBTQ rights. He opposed same-sex marriage and during his 2004 re-election campaign suggested introducing a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage.
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He also defended the US military’s Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy to keep serving members of the military in the closet.
Politico reporter and academic Adam B. Lerner was among those to ask if DeGeneres had, “forgotten about that whole anti-gay marriage, war in Iraq, general incompetence thing?”
Why are Ellen Degeneres and George W. Bush watching the Cowboys-packers game together? Has she forgotten about that whole anti-gay marriage, war in Iraq, general incompetence thing?
— Adam B. Lerner (@AdamBLerner) October 6, 2019
Out magazine tweeted that the sight of Bush and DeGeneres enjoying themselves together felt, “disappointing, irresponsible, and dangerous.”
One Twitter user may have been prophetic in how they saw the online furor playing out, predicting social media outrage followed by Ellen posting a message about how we all need to try to get along.
This is going to turn into a few days of people saying "what the fuck?" and a lot of LGBTQ people being justifiably and reasonably pissed at her for chatting it up with a guy who was literally about to change the constitution to deny her rights. https://t.co/qNVxa6CkGV
— T1theinfamous (@T1theinfamous) October 7, 2019
Well, today DeGeneres has done just that. On her official Twitter account, she posted a teaser clip from today’s pre-recorded Ellen Show in which she addresses the controversy.
She says: “Yes, that was me at the Cowboys game with George W. Bush over the weekend. Here’s the whole story.”
Yes, that was me at the Cowboys game with George W. Bush over the weekend. Here’s the whole story. pic.twitter.com/AYiwY5gTIS
— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) October 8, 2019
She goes on to explain that she and de Rossi had been invited by Charlotte Jones, daughter of Dallas Cowboys owner, Jerry Jones.
“So anyway, we get to sit in this very fancy suite because he owns the whole place … and he’s got, fancy friends. And I don’t mean fancy like ‘Real Housewives’ fancy. I mean, like, fancy.”
She then plays a video showing Bush sat next to her, smiling for her camera.
She goes on to say that when she was invited, she was “aware I was going to be surrounded with people from very different views and beliefs. And I’m not talking about politics. I was rooting for the [Green Bay] Packers. And everybody in the Cowboys suite was rooting for the Cowboys. So I had to hide my cheese hat in Portia’s purse.
“Don’t get me wrong. I love the cowboys. I love all the Village People, as a matter of fact,” she continues to quip.
Then she gets a little more serious.
“During the game, they showed a shot of George and me laughing together. And so, people were upset. They thought why is a gay, Hollywood liberal sitting next to a conservative, Republican President? [They] didn’t even notice I’m holding the brand new iPhone 11.
“A lot of people were mad and they did what people do when they’re mad, they tweet.
“But here’s one tweet I love: ‘Ellen and George Bush together makes me have faith in America again.’”
That tweet was posted by @Matthew_Oooo – and it was preceded by ‘HAHAHA’ but this part was cut from Ellen’s version.
DeGeneres applauds the tweet, and says, “Exactly!
“Here’s the thing. I’m friends with George Bush,” she continues. “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 … 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 as you do. I mean be kind to everyone.”
She goes on to thank Jerry and Charlotte Jones for hosting her and Portia, and to thank George and Laura Bush “for a Sunday afternoon that was so fun.”
At the time of writing, Ellen’s tweet had been liked over 75k times but prompted very divisive responses.
Many praised DeGeneres’ for her stance but others called her a “sellout”, pointing to Bush’s pivotal role in the Iraq war and his more recent support for Brett Kavanaugh to be approved for the Supreme Court.
Disagreeing with friends that wear fur is not the same as being friends with an anti-gay war criminal President that directly and negatively impacted millions of lives.
— David Doel (@daviddoel) October 8, 2019
It appears many of you may be genuinely unaware that insiders said NOBODY worked harder to get Brett Kavanaugh on the Supreme Court than George W. Bush.
He fought for a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage.
And the Iraq War, which was based on a lie, killed millions.
— Shaun King (@shaunking) October 8, 2019
RiBrad
Has the Twittersphere forgotten that it was Clinton who brought in Don’t Ask Don’t Tell? Obama didn’t support gay marriage til 2012? If you can’t talk to anyone who doesn’t share your exact same politics and history, you won’t have many people to talk to.
Cam
It’s cute when right wing defenders try to hide bigotry, hate, and violence behind the words “Politics” or “Beliefs”.
Aires the Ram
@RiBrad: Exactly. I think the leftists heads are gonna catch fire after Ellen said this: “When I say be kind to one another I don’t mean only the people that think the same way as you do. I mean be kind to everyone.”
Good for her. THIS is a much needed statement from a Hollywood liberal, I hope the people who unfriend family members and old friends who voted differently from them, take a good listen to this.
I know a lot of people, both conservative and liberal. Not one conservative I know, or have ever known, would beat the shit out of somebody out in public for wearing a hat or t-shirt that supported a candidate or President they didn’t like. But day after day now, story after story, some guy with a MAGA hat or MAGA t-shirt gets beat up on the street or in a place of business. What the hell is wrong with the people doing that kind of thing? I’ve lived about 50% of my adult life under a President I didn’t like. And all the while I had friends and family members who felt otherwise. I valued their friendship, who they were as a person, and didn’t give a damn that their politics were different than mine. My very best friend of 38 years, just turned 80 years old, I go out to the middle of the country to see him at least 2 times per year, because I love him and value his friendship. He’s a life-long Democrat. So, when we get to spend precious time together, guess what we DON’T talk about?? That’s right, politics. Because of the left-wing media and because of the leftist/communist people in this country who hate it, civility has been flushed down the toilet.
Cam
@Aires the Ram
What a shock, a long post all trying to talk about what great people bigots are.
Bob LaBlah
@RiBrad……I personally feel that Obama supported gay marriage and commuted Chelsea Manning’s sentence out of spite than out of political belief but we’ll never know who it was he was aiming those decisions at. It was his decision on Manning that has that belief etched in stone in my mind.
Kangol2
For the gazillionth time, Barack Obama supported same-sex marriage when he was an Illinois State Senator! Why is this so hard to grasp? He was for it before he was cautious about it, before he was for it again.
Cam
Ellen said “”“Here’s the thing. I’m friends with George Bush,” she continues. “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.””
————————————————
Ellen calling wanting to make her current relationship illegal or wanting to make sure she can be fired any time just because of who she is “Different beliefs” is her repeating the worst kind of right wing propaganda.
If Bush had suggested Black people shouldn’t be allowed to serve in the military, or Asian people shouldn’t be allowed to get married, or women shouldn’t be allowed to work because “The Bible”, she and others would call that bigotry, hate, racism, etc…
But because the attacks are against, #LGBT people….against her, well…. she is part of that old school “If we show them how nice we are, everybody will like us” group.
She is a wealthy celebrity and that protects her, what about the poor kids in Mississippi who don’t get to laugh with people who have different “Beliefs”? They are fired, beaten, and sometimes killed by people with “Different Beliefs” but I’m sure they or their surviving family will be really comforted that Ellen had such a nice time at the game palling around with people who have spent their lives trying to harm people just like her.
Aires the Ram
@”Cam”: So if anyone you think you like ‘sits with’ or says ‘I’m friends with’ somebody you don’t like, then you must dirty their name. You must have very few if any friends and a miserable life. You cannot leave the house my Dear, without encountering people who view things differently than you do. To most people I’d say “you need to get out of the house a little bit more”, but to you I think I’ll say this: “You need to stay IN the house a WHOLE LOT more.”
Cam
@Aires the Ram
Notice how the right wing troll account couldn’t dispute anything I said…so to defend anti_LGBT bigots it lashes out at me hoping to change the topic. Please tell the manager at the troll farm to send smarter trolls.
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
Well done!
rustyiam
@ Aries well said my friend! His kind are so intolerant and hateful it’s no wonder Trumo got elected, I wonder how people like Cam feel knowing that it was their actions that got him elected!
Cam
@rustyiam So, you switched over to this screename now. You really should hide better. But it’s adorable that you are trying the old school right wing victim rant of “If people don’t tolerate racism and bigotry, then they aren’t tolerant!”
Pooor little right wing troll.
Aires the Ram
…..I can’t wait for “Cam” to comment on here and call anybody who disagrees with him a “right-wing troll account”, and a “bigot”. We won’t have to wait long though. Just sit tight. It’s comin’.
Cam
My My My, how adorable. The right wing troll account is so desperate to defend people who hate LGBT people, and paint them as “Nice” that it’s trying the told “I bet he’s gonna say this” tactic.
Um…yeah, you defend any Republican who attacks LGBT people, and you attack LGBT victims. You’re a right wing troll account. Not saying it about “Anybody” saying it about you.
Now Quick! Switch to one of your other screenames to come on here and agree with your post! I’ll wait.
rustyiam
@ Aries lol he really is insufferable sometimes, I wonder if he ever tries to look at things from a different perspective instead of the constant knee jerk emotional responses!
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
Its so difficult now because in another time you could have good times with people across the aisle and who had differing views than you because the views didn’t directly harm us. We are now at a point where these vile noxious smcubags are arguing before The supreme Court of the United States that employers can fire a person for the only fact that they are gay this will open a Pandora’s box of discrimination based on “religious freedom” in housing ,health care including the ability of a doctor to deny emergency care to somebody brought into the emergency room in a life-or-death situation without any worry of being prosecuted
JaredMacBride
So Ellen is friendly with someone who disagrees with her on an important topic. Question for the SJWs – do you want to shoot her for being a traitor or hang her in Times Square?
Cam
Here is an answer for the right wingers.
When you stop trying to hide hate, racism, and bigotry behind the words “Disagrees” then we can have an honest discussion on this.
It’s also very telling how you use a FOX News insult on people who oppose anti-LGBT bigotry.
lauraspencer
For the past 20+ years Ellen has come from a place of Hollywood privilege. Her multi-million $ life separates her from the every day struggles that the average LGBTQ person experiences. People in power rub elbows with each other not caring about how those elbows have pushed others out of the way. It isn’t surprising that Ellen being part of the “in” crowd is more important to her than helping those on the outside looking in.
Cam
Similar to Jodie Foster defending her “Great Friend” Mel Gibson or Whoopie Goldberg defending Roman Polanski
loveislove
Ellen understands kindness and, more importantly, forgiveness. Holding onto anger and hate does more damage to yourself than anyone else. Trump and a fair number of posters here are good examples of what happens when you let pain and resentment consume you. Most of you are probably thinking: “But, but, evil, aweful people…” and you’re right. But, meeting hate with hate just adds more hate to the world. Doesn’t it make more sense to add love and kindness to the world wherever you can? Even if you don’t believe it will counter the hate… Which would make YOU feel better: helping a person in need or spewing anger on the internet?
thisisnotreal
@cam…so tired of your same-ish comments buddy. WE GET IT you don’t like republicans dude, you’ve made that ABUNDANTLY clear ever since your go to response to anyone’s outlook and opinion that you don’t like became accusing them of being a nasty conservative, get some new material buddy seriously it’s getting old. As for what Ellen said, frankly I agree with her (and before you start in on me too cam, two things, first I’m not a spam account defending hatred and bigotry and second of all I’m not a conservative so try again before u even start) I’ve been friends with many people in my life who didn’t agree with or support homosexuality but knew I was gay myself. I don’t know about other lgbt people but frankly I DONT NEED to surround myself only with people who fully agree with my opinions and support my stances and I know a lot of people who are the same way. Hell I’ve even got some gay republican friends as well and we don’t agree on a lot of things but past our differences they are decent people, and sometimes I think closed minded twits like CAM forget that little fact. People like cam are so focused on creating a community of yes men to surround themselves with that they refuse to accept the idea that two people can have wildly different religious or political or social views and STILL find common ground and get along. Someone needs to take cams phone away from him so he can get out of the queerty comment section with his tired old arguements, and go back to elementary school and relearn the lessons we were all taught that people who don’t think like us ARENT automatically the enemy(poor political judgements during presidency notwithstanding) .
Kangol2
Say you will about Cam, or Donston, or ChrisK, or some of the other regular commenters on here, but they say what they believe, and they regularly stand up for LGBTQ people. They don’t defend homophobes, they don’t divert arguments in order to cover for the anti-gay GOP and conservatives, and they call out the right-wing memes some commenters on here use as if the rest of us had no idea where they came from (Breitbart, Fox News, etc.).
George W. Bush actively promoted homophobia. ACTIVELY. He ran in 2004 supporting laws to BAN same-sex marriage in states around the US. On top of that, he created countless crises (the Iraq War, warrantless wiretapping, the financial crisis, etc.) that we are still recovering from. Ellen de Generes has the right to pal around with whoever she wants to, from W to Kevin Hart, but she also has to deal with whatever criticism comes from doing so. Fortunately she’s not as fragile and snowflakish as many right-wingers, so when she gets criticized, as she deserves, she rolls with the punches.
rustyiam
& Kang Most people fall in the middle of the 2 extremes you love to put everyone in , once you see this your mind will open up a bit and you won’t appear so rigid and dogmatic 😉
thisisnotreal
@kangol I’m not saying that her friendship with bush ISNT problematic cuz it most definitely is. But the way I see it, he knows she’s a lesbian and he still chose to associate with her and she knew he had a history of anti lgbt rhetoric and she chose to associate with him so maybe there’s a lesson somewhere deep in there that two people from very opposite sides of the fence can find common ground on SOMETHING and maybe use that opening to teach each other and broaden each other’s perspectives even a little bit. I look at two people from very opposite ideologies coming together as a good sign (call me naive if you want) instead of an opportunity to “cancel” one or both of them for even attempting it. Not saying she should be beyond criticism for her choices cuz I’ll admit it doesn’t look good for her to be skipping around with him of all people, but I choose to put some sort of positive spin on it by thinking that the two of them being able to engage in a civil conversation instead of it immediately devolving into hate speech and a hate crime is a good first step to making a change.
Kangol2
@rustyjams, spare me your usual garbage. My mind is open enough to see and know exactly what you are. No thanks, boo.
@thisisnotreal, I agree about dialoguing with people you disagree with. Also, although George W. Bush was a horrendous president and promoted homophobia, I don’t think he is personally a homophobe. I mean, don’t forget the whole James Gannon-Jeff Guckert scandal when he was president. He had no problem hanging out with that gay man, and even worked with anti-gay gay Republicans like Ken Melman, etc. With him I think it was really about politics, which in a sense makes it all worse.
But I also don’t doubt that he and Ellen may share points of agreement on certain topics (climate change, the importance of funding to end AIDS, etc.), and may have been discussing them or at least were polite toward each other. Bush and Obama are quite different in terms of their political stances and presidencies, just as Bill Clinton and W Bush were, yet they have been able to be friendly toward each other. But that is different from embracing hateful ideas and coddling hateful, destructive behavior.
truthseeker
Talk about hysterics. Out of the comments, Cam (DCguy) has commented 30% of those comments
Cam
And another screename from the same anti-LGBT account can’t dispute any of the comments about Bush so just tries to attack me.
I’m curious, do you have a wall up with 100s of pictures of me, or do you just come to Queerty, stare at my screename and write it in little hearts on your notepad?
truthseeker
@Cam
You really are in a frantic on this one. As far as Bush, he’s a loser. As far as Ellen, she’s always been a loser. What else is there for me to say?
Plus this is my only screen name. If you think everyone that you don’t like is all the same person, that might be signs of a psychological disorder. Basket case
Hussain-TheCanadian
So Elen has no issues being a friend with the butcher of Iraq, the man who led an illegal invasion of a sovereign nation, on a pack of lies, smashing that country to smithereens, while being responsible for the death and murder of hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqis?
The man who’s government is responsible for the patriot act, limiting the freedom of speech of any person living within the borders of the united states, unlawful and unlimited detention, unlawful search and seizure, and outlawing whistleblowers and murdering people without even charging them in front of a court of law.
That George Bush who this twat has no problem being a friend with? Hey Elen, you’re a disgrace.
orfunnyhaha
SJWs are eating themselves. Inevitable.
Cam
Love it that this article is exposing all of the right wing troll’s other screenames.
Brian
Meanwhile, the article on the Iranian singer facing execution for being gay has 4 comments. But Ellen is friendly with a former president and says we should treat everyone kindly and the usual suspects start foaming at the mouth. Great priorities, people.
thisisnotreal
@brian….welcome to America unfortunately. Americans love to hate people and things, but give them an article that’s serious about someone who’s an ally and in trouble or suffering and then they get “triggered” and can’t handle it so they choose to ignore it cuz it’s not juicy enough for them to have an opinion on.
Cam
You left out the part where he ran on attacking our community, making our relationships illegal, outlawing adoptions, and pushing funding for hate groups.
Typical right wing troll tactic. You try to say “Hey, Republicans are great, because look over here in this other place, they treat LGBT people bad, so ignore everything Republicans do over here.”
Brian
Man, you are on fire today Cam. Did ShareBlue give you a raise to 3 cents a post or something?
Jeton Ademaj
I’m glad that people get to see how rabid, hateful and authoritarian many Leftist activists have become, including plenty of hetero Leftists presuming to lecture LGBTQ on who we can be friendly to.
the screeching Marxist takeover of Queer politics has run its course, thankfully. LGBTQ have existed far longer than Socialist theory, but commies have always tried to exploit us.
Cam
Another new screename for our resident right wing, anti-LGBT troll account.
IT’s cute you’re still using the whole “If LGBT people point out hateful bigotry, and attacks on them that makes THEM the bullies.”
Yooper
If no one associates, interfaces, speaks, with others of different or opposite backgrounds, thoughts, political affiliations, ethnicity, heritage, culture, religion, socio-economic status, how in the heck are we ever going to live in this world.
thisisnotreal
@yooper PREACH! Sometimes I feel like the only person left alive who still believes in trying to bridge the gaps of humanity instead of building those bridges even farther apart than they already are.
Cam
Except you’re comparing somebody not wanting to associate with say, black people, to somebody not wanting to associate with somebody who spent 8 years attacking them, trying to remove their civil rights, and trying to make their families illegal.
richard 14
Ellen is rich. Dubya is rich. Rich people stick together.
ricdardc1
” Hey ELLEN when do you start selling your ” I REALLY DON’T CARE Jacket In Your ELLEN Store ? “
FunInTheSack
Cam has gone off the deep end.
If someone knows him, it’s partially your responsibility as a friend to make sure he’s okay.
I fear for his psychosis. Mental Health issues is a major concern. He’s not normal. I’m concerned for his mind, body and soul.
My guess is he’s isolated himself from his family. He has no close friends. And struggles with relationships.
I wish he could find some peace. In the meantime, up the dose on your meds and/or get a new therapist.
It’s you, and your warped reality, that pushed people to vote for Trump. No one wants to be like you, Cam. That includes wanting to support your causes. Quite the opposite, actually.
You’re sick, your brain is sick. Please get help!!!
Cam
So this is the right wing troll’s new screename.
Notice how it doesn’t even try to dispute anything I said, just a brand new screename that spends an entire post angrily attacking me like it did under it’s other screenames.
Sweetie, if you’re going to pretend to be a new account, it’s better not to post something that shows you’re an old account with a new name.
But again….your obsession with me is delicious.
Now, back to George Bush’s bigotry, and the fact that he shouldn’t be given a pass for his attacks on the LGBT community.
RickHeathen
People don’t learn differently by hating them. It’s that simple.
FunInTheSack
Cam, you’re so delusional. Clearly sick in the head.
This is my one and only screen name. How would you like me to prove that?
Or you can continue to believe your own lie.
Get help!! You need it!! The writing is on the wall.
Cam
Sweetie, if this is your only screename…..(So reminicient of your older one…. BJMcFrisky…..)
And this is the first time this screename has shown up….
Then you may want to not make the post
1. Have the exact same structure as your others.
2. Not deal with the post at all and just scream at me as your other screenames just did.
3. Although this is the first time this screename has shown up, you are talking as if you have been enraged and engaged in arguments with me for a long time.
I’ve said it before. Please tell the manager at the RNC troll farm to put somebody smarter on this account.
loveislove
How is anyone supposed to grow if others with opposing viewpoints refuse to even engage with them? George Bush probably didn’t think his gay marriage stance was a big deal in 2004 (ends justify the means, etc). However, perhaps, the kindness shown by a gay couple, Ellen and Portia, will open his heart and show him the pain and suffering that his actions caused to so many people. If we want people to change for the better, we have to give them the room and opportunity for redemption.
FunInTheSack
Cam, you’re an idiot.
And you’re wrong if you think this is the only post we’ve had dialogue.
Get help!!!
orfunnyhaha
is that a screen name?