Pat McAfee has always given Aaron Rodgers the freedom to stir up controversy, but it sounds like he is relieved to have a break from interviewing the star quarterback.
Rodgers on Tuesday made his final weekly appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” for the 2023 season. Last week, the four-time NFL MVP became national non-sports news when he cracked a joke about Jimmy Kimmel being on the Jeffrey Epstein list. Kimmel, whose name was only on a fake and edited version of the list, issued a strongly worded response and threatened to sue Rodgers.
Rumors circulated on Wednesday that McAfee has canceled his interviews with Rodgers going forward because of the quarterback’s beef with Kimmel. McAfee issued a long statement via X clarifying that Rodgers’ scheduled weekly appearances were set to end anyway with the New York Jets’ season being over.
However, McAfee also indicated that he is happy his show can now pivot back to sports rather than politics.
“I haven’t polled our crowd but I’m rather certain that nobody’s wanting to come hangout with us to hear us talk about politics,” McAfee wrote. “I think it’s probably a massive reason for our success actually … so all of this has been a good reminder of what we’re good for, and who we’re good for. Some day, I’ll try and build up enough of a brain to dive into the politics world but that time is nowhere near now…
“…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. 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.”
A lot of you are talking very wild about me and our progrum.. I assume you are very new to us.
We are a sports show that tries to inform folks of what’s going on and have a good time with good vibes… Everyday.
We do not bat 1000 but we feel as if we do make solid contact A… pic.twitter.com/h3befnizy9
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 10, 2024
McAfee also said during his show on Wednesday that he is happy Rodgers’ weekly appearances have ended because “the way it ended, it got real loud.”
We've given a lot of people who have been waiting for us to fail a lot of ammo the last week..
Let's chat about sports #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/S7J3FGprv0
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 10, 2024
“I’m happy that that is not gonna be in my mentions going forward, which is great news,” McAfee said.
ESPN came out and condemned Rodgers’ comments about Kimmel, which was expected. The network’s comments came on the same day that McAfee accused an ESPN executive of sabotaging his program, so it does not seem like McAfee is choosing sides between his close friend and current employer.
Either way, it is clear that McAfee was uncomfortable with the backlash that some of Rodgers’ recent comments created.
