QB offers no apology to ABC’s Kimmel
After Jimmy Kimmel called out Aaron Rodgers for referring that the latenight host was on Jeffrey Epstein’s list of associates, the New York Jets quarterback offered no apologies Tuesday. But he did say his words were misinterpreted and denounced anyone who attacked Kimmel in his name.
“I’m not calling him one. No one should, and don’t do it in my name. That’s not cool. I’m not about that,” Rodgers said. “And I have no love for anybody doing any of that (expletive).”
On “The Pat McAfee Show” last week, Rodgers said “there’s a lot of people, including Jimmy Kimmel, that are really hoping that” the Epstein’s associates list wouldn’t be released. The comedian fired back by saying he wasn’t associated with Epstein and threatened legal action. ESPN apologized for what Rodgers said on the show, and Kimmel responded on his ABC show Monday night in a minutes-long monologue during which he called him “Karen Rodgers,” and “hamster-brained.”
Rodgers said he would address what he said on this week’s appearance on McAfee’s show, and he didn’t regret anything he said the week prior.
Rodgers said he “joked about popping a bottle” because “there’s excitement about when the corruption anywhere gets exposed,” and mentioning Kimmel stems from the feud they had over COVID-19 in 2022. What Rodgers said last week was widely interpreted as insinuating Kimmel had a connection with Epstein. Rodgers said that isn’t what he said or meant.
The quarterback said he mentioned a possible list on “The Pat McAfee Show” last year and that afterward Kimmel made jokes about Rodgers believing there was a list with names on it. Rodgers said he meant Kimmel wouldn’t want the list to come out because it would prove he was right.
“I said that a lot of people, and I’m quoting myself, a lot of people, including Jimmy Kimmel, are really hoping that doesn’t come out. That’s what I said. That’s the entire quote,” he said. “I was referring to the fact that if there is a list, which again, this hasn’t come out yet, this was just a deposition.”
Rodgers added he knows “how serious” an allegation of pedophilia could be and understood why Kimmel would be mad about that, but the quarterback reiterated that’s not what he called him.
“I’m not calling him one. No one should, and don’t do it in my name. That’s not cool. I’m not about that,” Rodgers said. “And I have no love for anybody doing any of that (expletive).”
Rodgers continued: “I’m not stupid enough, even though you think I’m an idiot – and you made a lot of comments about my intelligence – but I’m not stupid enough to accuse you of that with absolutely zero evidence, concrete evidence, that’s ridiculous.”
Of any names associated with Epstein, Rodgers said he hopes Kimmel pays as much attention to those people. “There should be an inquiry into their involvement, especially if they went to the island, and in maximum, there should be an investigation into it. So I hope that you will give the same type of energy to these heinous crimes when they do come out and the names do come out.”
Rodgers also poked fun at Kimmel’s monologue from his show Monday. “I think it’s impressive that a man who went to Arizona State and has 10 joke writers can read off a prompter,” he said. “My education at JUCO and my three semesters at Cal that I’m very proud of has worked out for me and I’m glad to see it’s worked out for him as well.
“I wish him the best. I don’t give a (expletive) what he says about me. But as long as he understands what I actually said, and that I’m not accusing him of being on a list, then I’m all for moving forward.”
Later in the show, McAfee said he was “bummed out” about the whole situation because it was just people yelling at each other. Rodgers said the whole situation won’t change his opinion of all parties involved in it.