The Mercury News

Rodgers, Woodley debut in Arkansas

- Ry sartha Ross mross@ bAyAreAnew­sgroup.com

Aaron Rodgers and Shailene Woodley continue to surprise when it comes to how they present themselves as America’s new celebrity couple, choosing this week to make their public debut as a celebrity couple in a notso-typical way.

Instead of being photograph­ed together for the first time at an awards show or on the cover of some glossy national publicatio­n, the NFL quarterbac­k and his movie star fiancee chose to be snapped together in a much more humble setting: at a diner in western Arkansas. The very casually dressed couple, who announced in January that they had become secretly engaged during the COVID-19 pandemic, were all smiles in a photo shared Tuesday on Instagram by the Be Best Cafe and Bar in Hot Springs, Arkansas.

The photo shows Rodgers, 37, and Woodley, 29, posing with the cafe’s staff. The Green Bay Packers quarterbac­k, in a black hoodie, stands close to Woodley, who is wearing an oversized gray coat. Their hands are interlocke­d on Woodley’s shoulder.

“Our team had the opportunit­y to cook for @aaronrodge­rs12 and his crew last night,” read the caption from @BestCafeAn­dBar. “Grateful for the opportunit­y.” Fans of the restaurant, and particular­ly of Rodgers and of the Green Bay Packers, were delighted to see him and Woodley together in the photo, with one person writing: “Aw they make a great couple!! Excited that Aaron is in my home state. #GPG.” Another proclaimed: “My all time favorite QB and his fiancee. You both look so happy. Congratula­tions.”

As E! News noted, the cafe typically only opens for daytime service, but prepared a private dinner for Rodgers and Woodley. It therefore sounds like the couple could have kept their dinner — and their presence in Hot Springs — private. But they chose not to.

Neither has reacted to the post, or revealed informatio­n on their social media accounts or through their representa­tives about why they suddenly turned up in Arkansas, which isn’t known as a top destinatio­n for luxury celebrity getaways. Earlier Monday, they were photograph­ed boarding a private plane to fly out of Costa Careyes, Mexico, an exclusive resort town on the Pacific Ocean some 2,500 miles away from Hot Springs.

 ?? MIKE ROEMER — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, FILE ?? Green BYy PYckers quYrterbYc­k AYron Rodgers mYde Yn YppeYrYnce tith fiYncee ShYilene Voodley on TuesdYy.
MIKE ROEMER — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, FILE Green BYy PYckers quYrterbYc­k AYron Rodgers mYde Yn YppeYrYnce tith fiYncee ShYilene Voodley on TuesdYy.

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