Aaron Rodgers's estranged father says he's PROUD of him for refusing COVID-19 shot and slams 'haters' after the Packers QB apologized for saying he was 'immunized'
The estranged father of Aaron Rodgers has come out in support of the Green Bay Packers quarterback's controversial decision to refuse the COVID-19 vaccine and is slamming 'haters' accusing his son of misleading the public.
'I'm not sure why people think he misled anybody,' Ed Rodgers told USA Today.
Controversy over Aaron's vaccination status erupted last week when he tested positive for COVID-19 and was forced to enter a 10-day quarantine — the minimum amount of time an unvaccinated player is asked to quarantine, per NFL rules.
The revelation that he's unvaccinated came as a surprise to many because Aaron appeared to indicate in August that he had received the injection. When asked by reporters at training camp if he was vaccinated, Aaron said, 'yeah, I've been immunized,' but did not explain at the time that he was referring to a therapeutic treatment prescribed by his doctors and not any COVID-19 vaccine.
He clarified his statement on the Pat McAfee Show last week, explaining that he's allergic to an ingredient in the vaccine and also had concerns about potentially becoming a parent after getting the injection. Aaron also blamed the confusion for his vaccination status on reporters for failing to ask any follow-up questions in August.
'I think some of the people that are haters, I think if they listen to the show, I think he stated things very eloquently and very directly and succinctly,' Ed told USA Today.
However on Tuesday, in another interview with McAfee, Aaron admitted to misleading the public and apologized 'to anybody who felt misled.'
Ed, along with the rest of the family, has been mysteriously estranged from Aaron for several years. He described the family's relationship with Aaron as 'progressing' to USA Today, but did not elaborate.
Aaron Rodgers's estranged father Ed (left) has come out in support of the Green Bay Packers quarterback's controversial decision to refuse the COVID-19 vaccine and is questioning why some felt misled over his son's injection status
Aaron Rodgers has mysteriously been estranged from his family (pictured) for several years, but both he and members of the family have refused to address their issues publicly
'I really don't want to talk about anything else,' Ed said. 'That's kind of what I wanted to get across. I really think he's done great, and I hope he continues to stand strong.
'I think he tried to probably treat himself naturally, like a lot of folks do. And there's a lot of great natural things out there, which help mitigate the virus. So I'm proud of him. I'm proud that he went that route.'
Ed, a chiropractor in Chico, California went on to say: 'There's a lot of things that aren't so good about the vaccine.'
Aaron said told Pat McAfee last week that he's received monoclonal antibodies and, on the advice of podcaster Joe Rogan, taken Ivermectin — a drug used to work animals in its veterinary form that is unproven to treat COVID-19. The FDA has not approved the drug for use in preventing or treating coronavirus in humans and has warned patients against ingesting veterinary Ivermectin.
There are several reasons Rodgers is unvaccinated, he explained Friday, including his own allergies, and the likelihood that he and his fiancee, actress Shailene Woodley, would try to have children some day.
'I have an allergy to an ingredient that's in the mRNA vaccines,' Rodgers said. 'I found a long-term immunization protocol to protect myself and I'm very proud of the research that went into that.'
A Kansas City Chiefs fan holds up a sign regarding Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers before the start of an NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Green Bay Packers on Sunday
According to the CDC, the COVID-19 vaccines are recommended for everyone over 12, including women who are pregnant, or may become pregnant, and their partners.
According to an NFL Network report, Aaron received a homeopathic treatment to raise his antibody levels and then asked the NFL to review his status. The league noted that no such exemption exists, and ruled Aaron to be unvaccinated, subjecting him to more stringent pandemic protocols.
Aaron confirmed that reporting last week, saying he asked the team to 'accept my immunization status as under their vaccination protocol,' but the league refused.
He also claimed to be the victim of a 'woke' mob.
'I believe strongly in body autonomy and the ability to make choices for your body —not to have to acquiesce to some woke culture or crazed group of individuals that say you have to do something,' he told McAfee last week.
On the advice of podcaster Joe Rogan (pictured), Rodgers is taking Ivermectin to treat COVID
But the tone was much different from Rodgers on Tuesday after swirling reports that he was displeased with the media coverage surrounding his refusal to get vaccinated.
'Hate is not going to bring us out of this pandemic,' Rodgers said. 'It's going to be connecting and love. And I'm not going to hate on anybody that's said things about me. I believe everybody is entitled to their opinion and I always will believe that.'
As for his time away from football, Rodgers said he enjoyed his solitude and watched the Packers fall to 7-2 with a loss to the Chiefs in Kansas City on Sunday.
He could still return to play against the Seattle Seahakws on Sunday, depending on whether or not he gets cleared by the team.
'The main thing (is) I just support him,' Ed said. 'I'm proud of him. I trust his judgment and decisions. I think that's what I would've done.'
The protocols for unvaccinated players remain largely the same as they were for everyone during the 2020 season. The difference now, since the release of several vaccines, is that players who have gotten the injections are free from certain testing, distancing, and mask protocols. Unvaccinated players, however, need to distance, wear masks, and get daily tests
Aaron has mysteriously been estranged from his family for several years, and while he refuses to discuss the matter publicly, brother Jordan Rodgers referenced the feud on Twitter in 2018.
In response to a video Aaron posted asking for donations to help those affected by wildfires in Paradise, California, Jordan responded by shaming his older brother for failing to check on their mother, herself a California resident.
'PLEASE DONATE, SPREAD AWARENESS & SEND LOVE,' Jordan tweeted. 'But when your own Mom is home alone during the fires, car packed ready to evacuate, & you miss the fundamental first step of compassion; calling your parents to make sure they are safe … Everything else just feels like an act.'
Despite Jordan's criticism, Aaron is donating $1 million to the wildfire victims.
Aaron once starred at California-Berkley before going on to win a title as a member of the Packers. In fact, the entire family was on hand after the Super Bowl XLV win in early 2011, but things turned sour after that.
It's not known what the dispute is about, but the problems within the Rodgers family first came to light in 2016, when Jordan (now an ESPN college football analyst) was a contestant on the bachelor, and let it be known that the family no longer speaks to Aaron.
'Fame can change things,' Ed told The New York Times in 2017.
Aaron, meanwhile, told reporters in 2017 that he does not 'think it's appropriate talking about family stuff publicly.'
Aaron. confirmed to the Times that a Bleacher Report article claiming Aaron had not spoken to the family since 2014 was accurate.
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