Ellen DeGeneres hits back at critics of her friendship with George W. Bush

Ellen DeGeneres has addressed the controversy surrounding her watching an American football game with former President George W. Bush.

The comedienne, 61, and the politician, 73, were photographed sitting next to each other at a Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers game in Texas on Saturday.

Speaking during the opening monologue of her show, The Ellen Show, DeGeneres said: “People were upset. They thought, why is a gay Hollywood liberal sitting next to a conservative Republican president?

“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 I have.

“We’re all different, and I think that we’ve forgotten that that’s ok that we’re all different.”

She added: “Just because I don’t agree with someone on everything doesn’t mean 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.”

Several people criticised DeGeneres for watching the match with Bush, with some raising the issues surrounding the Iraq war.

Journalist Aaron Rupar said: “I don’t care how nice of a guy George W Bush is. He was one of our worst presidents and left our country and world in bad shape. The mess he helped create we’re still trying to dig out of. This is a bad look for [Ellen].”

Lecturer Adam B. Lerner added: “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?”

But others praised the duo sitting next to each other, with one Twitter user saying: “Sitting next to President George W Bush at a football game is symbolic of what the USA is supposed to be, but somehow isn’t anymore. People who have different points of view getting along. Just like any large family Thanksgiving dinner. Calm down everybody.”

Another added: “Great stuff. You’re allowed to be friends with people who have opposing views.”

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