Ellen DeGeneres is defending her friendship with former President George W. Bush, saying she's pals "with a lot of people who don't share the same beliefs" as her. 
 
The "Ellen" host and 43rd president were photographed grinning while sitting next to each other Sunday at AT&T Stadium as the Dallas Cowboys took on the Green Bay Packers.
 
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"During the game they showed a shot of George and me laughing together, and people were upset," DeGeneres said Tuesday in a preview clip from her daytime talk show's opening monologue. "They thought, 'Why is a gay Hollywood liberal sitting next to a conservative Republican president?'" DeGeneres told her audience.
"Here's the thing," the 61-year-old comedian continued. "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 OK that we're all different," DeGeneres said.
 
"For instance, I wish people wouldn't wear fur. I don't like it, but I'm friends with people who wear fur," she exclaimed.
 
"Just because I don't agree with someone on everything doesn't mean I'm not going to be friends with them," DeGeneres said, before referencing a line she closes every episode of her show with.
 
"When I say 'be kind to one another,' I don't mean only the people who think the same way you do. I mean be kind to everyone, it doesn't matter," DeGeneres said to applause.
 
DeGeneres thanked Bush and his wife, former first lady Laura Bush, for a fun outing before quipping to the ex-commander in chief, "By the way, you owe me six dollars for the nachos."  
 
A spokesperson for Bush reportedly responded that the former first couple "really enjoyed being with Ellen and Portia, and they appreciated Ellen’s comments about respecting one another."—Updated at 2:43 p.m.