From left: Pat McAfee and Aaron Rodgers.Photo:Joseph Weiser/Icon Sportswire via Getty, Megan Briggs/Getty
Joseph Weiser/Icon Sportswire via Getty, Megan Briggs/Getty
Pat McAfeeis clarifying thatAaron Rodgersis still welcome on his ESPN program, in response to misinformed media reports that suggested the NFL quarterback had been kicked off the show.
The incorrect media reports spawned fromRodgers’ weekly appearances on the show coming to their usual endbecause the NFL quarterback only appears on the ESPN program during the league’s regular season, which ended this week.
“I never said he’ll never be on the show again,” McAfee, 36,tweetedas part of a lengthy statement Wednesday clarifying the situation. “I hope he chooses to still chat with us.”
The NFL quarterback’s comment led Kimmel, 56, to threaten to sue in an angry tweet directed at Rodgers. “Your reckless words put my family in danger,” Kimmel tweeted. “Keep it up and we will debate the facts further in court.”
Pat McAfee.Vivien Killilea/Getty
Vivien Killilea/Getty
Kimmel later said Rodgers should apologizefor the comment, which the NFL quarterback did not.
Instead,Rodgers skirted around making an apologyduring his final scheduled appearance on McAfee’s show Tuesday. While dodging an apology, Rodgers instead went on a five-minute rant about COVID-19 vaccines and claimed Kimmel had misunderstood what he said when he baselessly suggested the late night host had nefarious ties to Epstein.
“I totally understand how serious an allegation of pedophilia would be, so for him to be upset about that, I get it,” Rodgers said without apologizing.
Pat McAfee.Mike Lawrie/Getty
Mike Lawrie/Getty
The fallout from Rodgers’ controversial appearances on thePat McAfee Showled to the deluge of misinformed media reports Wednesday afternoon that suggested the ESPN host kicked Rodgers off his program for his behavior.“Our fans know that [the weekly “Aaron Rodgers Tuesday” segment] ends shortly after Aaron’s team’s season ends.. that’s how it’s been,” McAfee clarified later in his statement. “He’ll make random surprise welcomed pop ins during big events or offseason adventures but, it’s always been a season thing.”
“I’m pumped that that is no longer gonna be every single Wednesday of my life,” McAfee said during the program, adding, “There’s gonna be a lot of people that are happy with that, myself included. To be honest, the way it ended, it got real loud… I’m happy that he’s not gonna be [in] my mentions going forward, which is great news.”
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Later on social media, McAfee echoed his relief and said he plans to try and steer the program away from controversy moving forward.
“I certainly don’t love that I’ve found myself in political wars and public beefs because of something that a guest has said on our show or something that my dumbass has said.. including a lawsuit that was VERY public.. but I think what I’ve come to realize is that it’s gonna come with the territory of this venture,” the ESPN host tweeted. “We are much more aware of that now. And, for the good of our lives, happiness, and mana.. we’re gonna try and avoid as many as possible.”
source: people.com
