Former NFL punter Pat McAfee announced on Wednesday that Aaron Rodgers will no longer appear on his ESPN show, "The Pat McAfee Show," for the remainder of the NFL season. McAfee did not clarify if Rodgers would return in the future. McAfee expressed his satisfaction with this decision, stating, "There are going to be a lot of people happy with that, myself included, to be honest with you. The way it ended, it got real loud." McAfee acknowledged that Rodgers' thoughts and opinions often upset many people.
The controversy surrounding Rodgers began when he made comments that implied comedian Jimmy Kimmel might be connected to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Kimmel, who denied any involvement with Epstein, threatened legal action against Rodgers. Rodgers did not apologize for his comments and stated that he was “glad” Kimmel was not on any list related to Epstein.
This recent development comes after a history of tension between Rodgers and Kimmel. In 2021, Kimmel criticized Rodgers for refusing to get the COVID-19 vaccine, and last year, Kimmel mocked Rodgers for suggesting that increased discussion of UFO sightings could be a distraction from Epstein's client list.
The back-and-forth between Rodgers and Kimmel has been ongoing, with both parties taking shots at each other. The conflict escalated when Rodgers appeared on McAfee's show and made the controversial comments about Kimmel and Epstein. McAfee's decision to remove Rodgers from his show stems from the negative attention and distraction caused by these comments.
In addition to the Rodgers controversy, McAfee also found himself in hot water with ESPN executive Norby Williamson. McAfee accused Williamson of leaking information to reporters and attempting to sabotage his show. McAfee's show has received lower ratings compared to other ESPN programs, which has led to speculation and criticism from ESPN employees. However, there is no evidence to support McAfee's claims against Williamson.
ESPN management is currently investigating the situation and hopes to find a resolution that benefits both McAfee and Williamson. McAfee's contract with ESPN, which was signed earlier this year, has also been a point of contention among some ESPN employees.
Overall, the fallout from Rodgers' comments and the tension between McAfee and Williamson have created a complicated situation for ESPN. The network is working to address the issues and find a way forward.
