Words carry a lot of weight in today’s world, and if not used correctly, they might get you in trouble. New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers learned that the hard way. He brought unwanted media attention to himself and host Pat McAfee for a comment he probably didn’t give much thought to before he spoke. After playfully jesting that the famed celebrity talk show host and comedian Jimmy Kimmel was a part of the much-talked-about Jeffrey Epstein circle and might even be on the infamous list, the footballer has been the center of a controversy that won’t be dying down anytime soon.
The controversy has even led to the threat of a lawsuit from Kimmel himself after he publicly called out the quarterback for his reckless comments and behavior. However, it seems the ESPN host, Pat McAfee, whose show is the reason why Rodgers is in the spotlight, is trying to mitigate the matter between the two celebs.
What Was Aaron Rodgers’ Bold Claim About Jimmy Kimmel?
Aaron Rodgers was invited to the Pat McAfee Show, where sports personalities have a chat with Pat McAfee and his co-host, AJ Hawk, about subjects from both on and off the field. Sometimes, these chatters take the form of playful banter, but in Rodgers’ case, they took a turn for the worse.
Indulging in a conspiracy theory about the colors of NFL Super Bowl emblems predicting future contenders, Rodgers dove into a deep but lighthearted discussion. After that, AJ Hawk’s frisky comments suggested a link to the much-awaited release of the Jeffrey Epstein list. Then Rodgers came up with the not-so-brilliant idea to name Jimmy Kimmel as one of his associates. He said:
“There’s a lot of people, including Jimmy Kimmel, who are hoping that list doesn’t come out.”
McAfee, not assessing the situation properly, joked that Rodgers had been “awaiting the release in his wine cellar”, to which the quarterback replied:
“I’ll tell you what, if that list comes out, I definitely will be popping some sort of bottle.”
For those who are unaware of why Rodgers took Kimmel’s name in the first place, it was because the comedian had made fun of Rodgers for discussing UFOs and the Epstein List on a previous show. However, the footballer’s unsolicited jab did not sit well with Kimmel, and he publicly called out Rodgers and filed a lawsuit against him.
Read more: “Half of my face is paralyzed”: George Clooney’s Medical Condition Left Jimmy Kimmel Speechless
Pat McAfee Publicly Apologizes to Jimmy Kimmel
The Kimmel-Rodgers controversy has witnessed a lot of public ire, as the issue trends on social media all over the internet. Seeing the situation getting out of hand, McAfee has finally decided to take a stance on the matter.
In the most recent episode of the Pat McAfee Show, the ESPN host appeared to be trying to lull the issue while justifying why Kimmel has the right to oppose the allegations made by Rodgers. He said,
“I can see exactly why Jimmy Kimmel felt the way he felt, especially with his position. But I think Aaron was just trying to talk s*it.We obviously don’t like to be associated with anything negative ever. We’d like our show to be an uplifting one, a happy one, a fun one, but it’s because we talk —- and try to make light of everything. Some things obviously people get very p*ssed off about, especially when they’re that-serious allegations.”
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He also went on to apologize to the late-night TV icon, saying:
“So we apologize for being a part of it. I can’t wait to hear what Aaron has to say about it. Hopefully, those two will just be able to settle this, you know, not court-wise, but be able to chit-chat and move along, ’cause remember, you’re allowed to disagree with people’s opinions.”
Though McAfee’s apology seems sincere and straight from the heart, it also seems he might be trying to avoid any negative light on his talk show. However, shots have already been fired, a case has already been filed, and netizens are highly interested in the drama that has followed.
Only time will tell how far the two parties are willing to go and draw it out or if the controversy will dissolve on its own.
