Aaron Rodgers fires back at Jimmy Kimmel, denies calling late-night host 'pedophile'
Aaron Rodgers attempted to put his feud with comedian Jimmy Kimmel to bed Tuesday during his weekly appearance on ESPN’s "The Pat McAfee Show."
The New York Jets quarterback addressed Kimmel’s monologue from Monday night when Kimmel pushed back on the idea he was linked to Jeffrey Epstein in any way and denied being involved in any kind of pedophilia.
Kimmel also levied shots at Rodgers’ intelligence.
Rodgers said he never accused Kimmel of being a pedophile.
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New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers during a game against the New England Patriots Jan. 7, 2024, at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. (Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
"I was referring to the fact that if there’s a list, which again, this hasn’t come out yet. There was just a deposition, and there are names on it, then that would be the second time that soft brained, junior college student, wacko, anti-vax, antisemite, purveyor, spreader of misinformation, conspiracy theorist, MAGA, whatever other things that have been said by him and other people in the media would be right twice," Rodgers said.
"Let me just say, that is the truth, No. 1. No. 2, I totally understand how serious an allegation of pedophilia would be. So, for him to be upset about that, I get it. Did you watch the quote because that’s exactly what I said? Verbatim. What I said on the show."
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The four-time NFL MVP said he wasn’t "stupid enough" to levy a pedophilia claim at the late-night host.
"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. I’m glad and I think we can agree on something is that, one, those crimes are heinous and, two, and I’m glad you’re not on a list because those who are on the list — and this is what I think we can agree on — that, at minimum, there should be an inquiry into their involvement. Especially if they went to the island. And, at maximum, there should be an investigation into it," he said.
Jimmy Kimmel at the FYC event for "Welcome To Wrexham" held at the Television Academy April 29, 2023, in Los Angeles. (Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images)
"I hope he will give the same type of energy to these heinous crimes when they do come out and the names do come out and there is an inquiry into it that you gave to other subjects that I actually mentioned that you spent a lot of time working on."
Rodgers maintained he didn’t care what Kimmel said about him.
"To sum this up, I still haven’t popped a bottle because there still hasn’t been any list that’s come out," he said. "I’m glad Jimmy is not on the list. I really am, and I don’t think he’s the P-word. I think it’s impressive that a man who went to Arizona State and has 10 joke writers can read off a prompter. 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.
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"I wish him the best. Again, I don’t give a s--- 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. I’m all for moving forward."
Rodgers explained what Kimmel said in 2020 and 2021 about him after he explained his immunization efforts against COVID instead of getting the vaccine. He also had an issue with Kimmel having Dr. Anthony Fauci on his show to talk about the illness and the vaccine.
Aaron Rodgers of the New York Jets, right, greets Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy after the New York Jets defeated the Washington Commanders 30-28 at MetLife Stadium Dec. 24, 2023, in East Rutherford, N.J. (Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
He also pointed to Kimmel calling him names and making assertions because he was concerned about the Epstein list in 2023.
"There’s a lot of people, including Jimmy Kimmel, who are really hoping that doesn’t come out," Rodgers said last week "I'll tell you what, if that list comes out, I definitely will be popping some sort of bottle."
Kimmel didn’t appear to be laughing at the jab he took from Rodgers on McAfee’s show and threatened to get lawyers involved if he kept it up.
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"For the record, I’ve not met, flown with, visited, or had any contact whatsoever with Epstein, nor will you find my name on any ‘list’ other than the clearly-phony nonsense that soft-brained wackos like yourself can’t seem to distinguish from reality," Kimmel wrote on X. "Your reckless words put my family in danger. Keep it up and we will debate the facts further in court."
Now, the ball appears back in Kimmel’s court.
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