Ellen DeGeneres responds to social media outrage over her sitting next to George W. Bush at an NFL game

Talk show host Ellen DeGeneres responded gracefully to the online furor and outrage after she sat next to former President George W. Bush at an NFL game Sunday between the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers in Arlington, Texas.

The openly gay celebrity was excoriated by many on the left for sitting next to a former president they saw as diametrically opposed to her political beliefs.

On Monday, she answered her critics.

"People were upset, they thought why is a gay Hollywood liberal sitting next to a conservative Republican president," DeGeneres explained.

"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.

"We're all different, and I think we've forgotten that that's OK that we're all different," she added. "For instance, I wish people wouldn't wear fur. I don't like it, but I'm friends with people who wear fur.

"But just because I don't agree with someone on everything, doesn't mean I'm not gonna be friends with them," she added.

"When I say be kind to one another, I don't mean only the people who think the same way that you do, I mean be kind to everyone," DeGeneres said. "Doesn't matter!"

Her audience erupted in supportive applause.

"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.

Here's the video of DeGeneres' reply:

This Photo of Ellen & George W. Bush Will Give You Faith in America Againwww.youtube.com