Kathie Lee Gifford is sharing her perspective on being a Christian and loving the LGBTQIA+ community.
“That one is a four-letter word, and it’s called L-O-V-E, love,” Gifford, 72, shared on the Monday, March 9, episode of Outkick’s “Tomi Lahren Is Fearless” podcast. “I’ve had as many or more gay friends than straight friends, or I don’t know how many letters there are now. They really got to stop with that. We know what you mean, you know?”
While podcast host Tomi Lahren chuckled at the remarks, Gifford made it clear that she’s “not telling anybody how to live their life.”
“I never have,” she continued. “I just know what Jesus said: ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself. Love God first.’”
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The conversation was sparked when Lahren, 33, brought up Shia LaBeouf’s headline-making quotes about being a Catholic.
“I know I’m f***ing deep off into the Bible,” LaBeouf, 39, previously said during a February 28 interview with Channel 5 With Andrew Callaghan. “I know what the Bible says … about homosexuality.”
When host Andrew Callaghan specifically asked what the Bible says about homosexuality, LaBeouf replied, “Nah.”
Lahren asked Gifford for her perspective on Christians who also love the LGBTQIA+ community.
“The scriptures do have something to say about it. You can also just look that up, too,” Gifford replied. “I can’t hate anybody that I say I love. Love cannot live alongside hatred. It’s oil and water.”
The former Today show cohost followed up with a message she received from her God when she was just starting off in the industry at a young age.
“‘Kathie, you will be too busy loving people that you disagree with to judge them.’ I don’t judge anybody,” Gifford said. “That’s God’s business. If you’re more interested in what the scriptures say, Google it.”
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Gifford — who recently released her latest novel, called Nero and Paul: How the Gospel of Grace Defeated the Ruler of Rome — has been open about her Christian faith ever since she found success as a daytime talk show host.
After stepping away from the Today show in 2019, the bestselling author has continued to share her faith through various platforms.
“This book is a statement that eternal truth will always conquer evil, a message as relevant in our time as it was in theirs,” she wrote via Instagram on Tuesday, March 10. “My prayer is that as you read, you will be inspired to consider your own place in God’s great story. Thank you for being a part of this journey with me.”
