Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers confronted recent controversies head-on, delivering a fiery response to comedian Jimmy Kimmel and various media outlets over his comment allegedly linking Kimmel to the infamous Epstein client list.
The dispute between Aaron Rodgers and Jimmy Kimmel escalated following Rodgers’ implications about Kimmel being affected by the release of a list of associates of Jeffrey Epstein.
Rodgers, during an episode of “The Pat McAfee Show” on YouTube, suggested that Kimmel, among others, might be concerned about the release of this list.
“There’s a lot of people, including Jimmy Kimmel, are really hoping that doesn’t come out,” Rodgers said.
“I’ll tell you what, if that list comes out, I definitely will be popping some sort of bottle,” he continued.
In response, Kimmel threatened legal action against Rodgers. Kimmel’s statement was a direct rebuttal to Rodgers’ claims, emphasizing that he had never met, flown with, visited, or had any contact with Epstein. He called the quarterback an “assh**le” and “soft-brained wacko.”
Kimmel also warned Rodgers that his reckless words were putting his family in danger and suggested that if Rodgers continued, they might end up resolving the matter in court.
Dear Aasshole: for the record, I’ve not met, flown with, visited, or had any contact whatsoever with Epstein, nor will you find my name on any “list” other than the clearly-phony nonsense that soft-brained wackos like yourself can’t seem to distinguish from reality. Your reckless… https://t.co/p8eug12uiS
— Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel) January 2, 2024
This feud dates back to an earlier occasion when Rodgers suggested that UFO information was being released as a distraction from the Epstein client list.
Kimmel mocked Rodgers for this statement on his show. The current situation is further complicated by the business relationships involved: ESPN and ABC, where Kimmel’s late-night show airs, are both owned by Disney.
Kimmel expressed his views during his evening television program.
WATCH:
Jimmy’s thoughts on quarterback Karen Rodgers… pic.twitter.com/mRh5VRUycz
— Jimmy Kimmel Live (@JimmyKimmelLive) January 9, 2024
On Tuesday, Rodgers returned to ESPN and offered no apologies to Kimmel.
“I don’t have any apologies, not (for) that guy from ABC,” Rodgers said on McAfee’s show.
“I was vilified. My character was attacked. My reputation was attacked. My sponsors were attacked. I received death threats. So, yeah, why does it mean a lot to me? Because I went through that and survived the winter of death,” Rodger said.
Aaron Rodgers clarified his previous comments about Jimmy Kimmel and the Jeffrey Epstein list. He emphasized that his original statement, which mentioned Kimmel, was hypothetical and referred to the potential release of a list from a deposition, not an actual list.
Rodgers also touched on media tactics, accusing them of attempting to ‘cancel’ individuals and use name-calling as a strategy, citing his own experience with labels like “antivax”, “antisemite”, and “conspiracy theorist”.
He defended his stances on vaccines and political affiliations and suggested that some conspiracy theorists have been proven right in recent times.
WATCH:
BREAKING: Aaron Rodgers goes off on Jimmy Kimmel and the media in his first appearance back on ESPN after his Kimmel/Epstein comments.
Rodgers called out the media for slandering him and for trying to ‘cancel’ him before he aimed his sights on Kimmel who made fun of him… pic.twitter.com/DM2x6b9CQ1
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) January 9, 2024