Aaron Rodgers Let Go from ‘Pat McAfee Show’ Following Controversial Remarks on Jimmy Kimmel
Aaron Rodgers loses ‘The Pat McAfee Show’ gig following his controversial remarks on Jimmy Kimmel Pat McAfee confirms the NFL star will no longer appear on his show
Pat McAfee has revealed that Aaron Rodgers will no longer be a guest on his ESPN show for the rest of the season following the NFL star's contentious remarks.
"Aaron Rodgers' season 4 is officially over," announced McAfee, 36, during the January 10th episode of The Pat McAfee Show. "There's probably a lot of folks celebrating that, myself included. It's a relief to know I won't have to deal with any negativity surrounding that anymore."
He also expressed gratitude for the opportunity to speak with Rodgers and learn from him, acknowledging his significant presence in the NFL.
"He has definitely stirred controversy with some of his thoughts and opinions," he said. "I'm relieved that I no longer have to endure that every single Wednesday, as I have been for the past few weeks."
According to the New York Post, 40-year-old Rodgers, who was a regular on the show, earned a seven-figure salary for his weekly appearances on Tuesdays. McAfee confirmed to the outlet in October 2023 that Rodgers "has made over $1,000,000 with us, for sure."
"We have provided our critics with plenty of material to attack us with over the past week," said McAfee on Wednesday. "We are eager to move forward and leave this behind." Earlier this month, the New York Jets quarterback sparked controversy by suggesting on The Pat McAfee Show that Jimmy Kimmel should be concerned about his association with the late Jeffrey Epstein. This insinuation implied a link between the 56-year-old late night host and the accused sex offender.
Rodgers stated, "If that list is released, I will definitely be celebrating with a bottle of some sort." In retaliation, Kimmel criticized Rodgers for his accusations and warned of potential legal consequences.
"Dear individual: I want to clarify that I have never encountered, traveled with, visited, or had any interactions with Epstein, and my name is not on any "list" besides the obviously false claims that foolish individuals like yourself cannot tell apart from reality," Kimmel tweeted on January 2. "Your irresponsible words have placed my family at risk. If you persist, we will discuss the matter in court. @AaronRodgers12."
Meanwhile, McAfee apologized on his show and admitted that the joke crossed a line.
McAfee shared, "I can see exactly how Jimmy Kimmel felt, especially given his position, but I think Aaron was trying to provoke. Did it go too far? Jimmy Kimmel certainly thought so. We obviously don't want to be associated with anything negative. Our goal is to have an uplifting, happy, and fun show, but we discuss difficult topics and try to bring lightness to everything."
On his ABC show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Kimmel addressed Rodgers' "damaging" allegations and once again denied any connection to Epstein. (ESPN and ABC are owned by Disney.)
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Despite the continuing conflict, Rodgers refused to retract or apologize for his remarks during his last appearance on the show on January 9th, and instead expressed his best wishes for Kimmel. "I don't care what he says about me," Rodgers declared. "As long as he grasps what I really said, that I'm not accusing him of being on a list. I'm all for moving forward."
