Aaron Rodgers complains he's being targeted by the 'woke mob' for not being vaccinated
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers complained the "woke mob" is trying to "cancel" him after it was revealed he's not vaccinated against COVID-19.
Rodgers appeared on The Pat McAfee Show Friday after reports emerged that he has not been vaccinated against COVID-19, despite seeming to imply in an interview he was. The NFL star declared he's now in the "crosshairs of the woke mob" and wanted to clarify his stance on vaccines before the "final nail gets put in my cancel culture casket."
Rodgers proceeded to defend his status as unvaccinated, claiming he put "a lot of time and energy and research" into the decision and has an allergy to an ingredient in the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. While insisting he's not "anti-vaxx," he questioned why "people are still getting COVID" if the "vaccine is so great" and expressed concern over whether the vaccines can cause fertility issues, even though the CDC says there is no evidence of this.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"[The media is] trying to shame and out and cancel all of us non-vaccinated people," he bemoaned.
At one point, Rodgers quoted Martin Luther King Jr. to defend his position, saying he has "a moral obligation to object to unjust rules and rules that make no sense." He also incorrectly claimed "every member of the left" was against vaccines prior to President Biden's election last year.
Rodgers says he's now 48 hours in to battling COVID-19, and he's taking advice on treatment from controverisal podcast host Joe Rogan. "I've been doing a lot of the stuff he recommended in his podcasts and on the phone to me," Rodgers said of Rogan.
Rodgers quickly drew criticism for his comments during the interview, with NBC News reporter Ben Collins writing, "It would be impossible to draw up a more stereotypical antivaxxer argument than the one being outlined by Aaron Rodgers today."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
When will mortgage rates finally start coming down?
The Explainer Much to potential homebuyers' chagrin, mortgage rates are still elevated
By Becca Stanek, The Week US Published
-
Women are getting their own baseball league again
In the Spotlight The league is on track to debut in 2026
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Giant TVs are becoming the next big retail commodity
Under the Radar Some manufacturers are introducing TVs over 8 feet long
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Quincy Jones, music icon, is dead at 91
Speed Read The legendary producer is perhaps best known as the architect behind Michael Jackson's 'Thriller'
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
OJ Simpson, star athlete tried for murder, dead at 76
Speed Read The former football hero and murder suspect lost his battle with cancer
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Momofuku's 'Chili Crunch' trademark uproar
Speed Read The company's attempt to own the sole rights has prompted backlash
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Kevin Hart awarded Mark Twain Prize
Speed Read He is the 25th recipient of the prestigious comedy prize
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Is Downton Abbey set to return for a final film?
Speed Read Imelda Staunton reveals that a third movie may be in the pipeline
By Adrienne Wyper, The Week UK Published
-
'Oppenheimer' sweeps Oscars with 7 wins
speed read The film won best picture, best director (Christopher Nolan) and best actor (Cillian Murphy)
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'Rust' armorer convicted of manslaughter
speed read The film's cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was shot and killed by actor Alec Baldwin during rehearsal
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The Beatles are getting 4 intersecting biopics
Speed Read Director Sam Mendes is making four separate movies, each told from the perspective of one band member
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published