There’s no love lost between New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers and late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel.
During an episode of “The Pat McAfee Show” on Tuesday, Rodgers and McAfee held a discussion about conspiracy theories in the NFL. Some people on the internet claimed that each year’s Super Bowl logo combines the colors of the two teams that the NFL predetermines will play in the big game before the season starts.
That conversation took a wild turn when co-host A.J. Hawk asked if this conspiracy theory had anything to do with the Jeffrey Epstein list. After hearing this question, Rodgers took this as an opportunity to throw an insult at Kimmel.
“That’s supposed to be coming out soon,” Rodgers said. “A lot of people — including Jimmy Kimmel — are really hoping that doesn’t come out.”
This guy @AaronRodgers12 has been waiting in his wine cellar for this 😂😂 #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/PUX3gWFC9R
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 2, 2024
Why did this question spur Rodgers to say something that random, you may ask? Well, there’s a little history between the two.
Back in March of 2023, Kimmel mocked the quarterback for wanting to know the names on this infamous list. He called Rodgers a “tin foil hatter” and told him to re-enter the NFL’s concussion protocol.
Jimmy Kimmel claims Aaron Rodgers is a “tin foil hatter” for wanting to know the names on the Jeffrey Epstein client list. pic.twitter.com/fZtiULosEM
— Mythinformed (@MythinformedMKE) March 2, 2023
So that’s how this all got started. Now, you may be thinking that Rodgers went too far for making a joke that involved Kimmel being a part of one of the most despicable pedophile rings we know of. Kimmel thought so too, and threatened to take legal action against Rodgers if he said something like this again.
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
Rodgers probably shouldn’t have made this joke. Furthermore, McAfee even said that he believed Rodgers was making a (poorly executed) wisecrack and likely didn’t actually believe Kimmel was on the list. But Kimmel cannot expect that people won’t respond to his degrading comments.
All Rodgers did in March was say he was curious about what the list contained, as were many Americans. Even so, Kimmel took this as a chance to tell Rodgers he needed to get his head examined. Rodgers responded (however crudely), so Kimmel shouldn’t be too surprised.
The quarterback has yet to respond to the comedian’s most recent comment.
This isn’t the first time Rodgers has responded quite forcefully to his critics. When Keith Olbermann rejoiced over Rodgers’ achilles injury he sustained in Week 1 of the NFL season, the quarterback dropped a doozy of a one-liner. Ironically, he did this on another appearance of McAfee’s show.
Aaron Rodgers hilariously claps back at Keith Olbermann.pic.twitter.com/OU6ac1FDyW
— MRCTV (@mrctv) September 15, 2023
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