The popular Tuesday appearances of NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers on 'The Pat McAfee Show' will no longer continue for the remainder of the football season, and there is even speculation that the segment may never return. McAfee, the host of the show, made the announcement at the beginning of his Wednesday episode on ESPN.
As McAfee's staff applauded in the background, he expressed his satisfaction with this development, stating that many people, including himself, would be pleased to hear the news. He acknowledged that while it was a privilege to chat with Rodgers and learn from him, some of the quarterback's thoughts and opinions have offended a lot of individuals. McAfee asserted that he was glad to have put an end to the contentious discussions that have taken place on the show in recent weeks.
The latest blow in the ongoing feud between Rodgers and late-night host Jimmy Kimmel occurred during Rodgers' appearance on McAfee's show on January 2. Rodgers implied that Kimmel's name might be linked to Jeffrey Epstein, a millionaire accused of sex trafficking involving underage victims before his suicide. This escalated the rivalry between Kimmel and Rodgers and put The Walt Disney Co., the parent company of both networks, in an embarrassing position.
On Tuesday's show, Rodgers denied accusing Kimmel of being a pedophile and condemned those who do. However, he stopped short of offering an apology for his previous comments. ESPN executive Mike Foss, who oversees McAfee's show, had criticized Rodgers for making a 'dumb and factually inaccurate joke' about Kimmel. Rodgers, in turn, criticized Foss for not helping the situation by mischaracterizing his statements.
Rodgers had previously expressed that many people, including Kimmel, were hoping a list of Epstein's associates wouldn't be made public. Kimmel, who denies any association with Epstein, threatened Rodgers with a lawsuit and accused him of endangering his family with his remark. Rodgers defended himself, stating that people had misinterpreted his words and that he was not foolish enough to accuse Kimmel of being a pedophile.
Kimmel responded to Rodgers' comments during his Monday night show, labeling him as 'hamster-brained' and suggesting that he might have suffered concussions. Kimmel also demanded an apology from Rodgers, though he expressed skepticism about receiving one. The late-night host further mocked Rodgers with jokes about his academic performance.
Aside from intensifying the feud between Kimmel and Rodgers, this exchange also affected the relationship between McAfee and ESPN. McAfee accused Norby Williamson, ESPN's head of event and studio production, of attempting to sabotage his show and claimed that Williamson had no respect for him. ESPN responded by stating that they would handle McAfee's comments internally.
Despite the controversy, McAfee remains committed to his words, even though they have created additional tension. McAfee's self-produced show, which ESPN licensed under a five-year, $85 million agreement announced in May 2021, has been performing well. The show averaged 886,000 viewers across all platforms last week, with a 20% increase in viewership on ESPN alone since its debut in September.
The fallout from Rodgers' appearances on 'The Pat McAfee Show' has caused significant waves in the sports and entertainment industry. As the season progresses and the controversy lingers, it remains to be seen how the various parties involved will handle the situation and whether the show will resume its regular programming in the future.
