In a recent turn of events, sports commentator Stephen A. Smith has come to the defense of Pat McAfee, stating that McAfee had nothing to apologize for regarding comments made by Aaron Rodgers on his show. McAfee had issued an apology to Jimmy Kimmel after Rodgers speculated on his show that Kimmel could potentially be on the list of Jeffrey Epstein associates. Smith, speaking on his podcast, absolved McAfee of any responsibility for the controversy, stating that McAfee didn't do anything wrong since he couldn't anticipate what Rodgers would say on the live show.
The controversy began when McAfee's co-host and Rodgers' former Packers teammate, A.J. Hawk, brought up the Epstein list during a discussion about the Super Bowl logo. Rodgers, speaking tongue-in-cheek, responded by mentioning people like Kimmel who might be hoping the Epstein list never comes out. Smith, on his podcast, believed that Rodgers was joking but still felt that an apology to Kimmel was necessary. He urged Rodgers to apologize and un-complicate the situation, emphasizing that joking about Epstein is not appropriate.
Following Rodgers' remarks, Kimmel took to Twitter to vehemently deny any connection to Epstein. He threatened legal action against Rodgers, stating that his "reckless words" put his family in danger. Kimmel and Rodgers have had an ongoing feud since 2021 when Kimmel criticized Rodgers for misleading the public about his COVID-19 vaccination status. Kimmel referred to Rodgers as a "tin foil hatter" earlier this year when Rodgers questioned the U.S. government's UFO disclosures.
On Wednesday, McAfee publicly apologized for airing the comments made by Rodgers, acknowledging the seriousness of the allegations and expressing a desire for Rodgers and Kimmel to settle their differences. McAfee's show is aired on ESPN, which is owned by Disney, the parent company of ABC, where Kimmel's show is broadcast. This situation puts McAfee and both networks in a delicate position. ESPN has given McAfee significant leeway, including allowing controversial figures like Rodgers to appear on his show and express their views on various topics, including vaccines.
ESPN signed McAfee to a lucrative contract last year, hoping that his popular digital show and freewheeling format would attract new viewers amidst the network's changing business model. McAfee's hiring came at a time when ESPN was undergoing cost-cutting measures and layoffs. Despite the controversy surrounding McAfee's show and his unorthodox style, ESPN's president of content, Burke Magnus, has stated that they will not impose a strict dress code or censor his language.
As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how Rodgers, McAfee, Kimmel, and the networks involved will resolve the controversy and move forward.
