Ellen DeGeneres criticized for sitting by George W. Bush at NFL game

(KUTV) — Ellen DeGeneres is defending her decision to sit next to George W. and Laura Bush at the Dallas Cowboy game on Sunday.

The talk show host explained during a segment set to air Tuesday that it’s a good thing when two people of different backgrounds are friendly.

DeGeneres and her wife, Portia de Rossi, were invited to the game by Charolette Jones, daughter of the Cowboys’ owner Jerry Jones. DeGeneres was seated next to Bush. The pair were seen exchanging friendly conversation.

DeGeneres said, “During the game, they showed a shot of me and George laughing together, and so people were upset.”

“They thought, Why is a gay Hollywood liberal sitting next to a conservative Republican president?” she said, joking that they “didn’t even notice I’m holding the brand-new iPhone 11."

“But a lot of people were mad, and they did what people do when they’re mad: They tweet.”

She, however, decided to share a positive message from one Twitter user.

“Ellen and George Bush together makes me have faith in America again.”

To that, DeGeneres said, “Exactly. 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 okay that we’re all different,” she continued. “For instance, I wish people wouldn’t wear fur. I don’t like it, but I’m friends with people who wear fur. And I’m friends with people who are furry, as a matter of fact. I have friends who should tweeze more,” she joked.

But just because I don’t agree with someone on everything doesn’t mean that I’m not going to be friends with them,” she said. “When I say, ‘be kind to one another,’ I don’t only mean the people that think the same way that you do. I mean be kind to everyone.”

“Even people who are already playing Christmas music — I mean seriously, there’s no excuse for that, but I’m kind to them,” she joked.

DeGeneres then thanked both the Jones' and the Bushes “for a Sunday afternoon that was so fun — by the way, you owe me $6 for the nachos.”

Bush was a guest on DeGeneres’ talk show in 2017