Feeling regret. Aaron Rodgers mirrored on his controversial COVID-19 vaccine feedback and the way they affected his ex-fiancée, Shailene Woodley.
“One factor that I’m unhappy about and positively apologetic is I didn’t understand within the midst of the COVID conversations how a lot my scenario was affecting my family members and my folks,” the 38-year-old athlete mentioned in the course of the Tuesday, February 22 episode of The Pat McAfee Present. “I didn’t understand the sort of shrapnel that was being flaked off of what I felt like have been the bullets coming at me as a result of I used to be too locked in on me and defending myself and attempting to get a message out.”
The Inexperienced Bay Packers quarterback — who introduced his engagement to Woodley, 30, in February 2021 earlier than splitting one 12 months later — expressed unhappiness for the way all the pieces went down relating to his aversion to getting vaccinated.
Aaron Rodgers and Shailene Woodley Shutterstock (2)
“I by no means wished to be divisive on this entire factor, I actually didn’t,” he claimed on Tuesday. “The problem is polarizing, I get that, and I do know there’s quite a lot of concern concerned round that, however my intention was by no means to be divisive.”
The four-time NFL MVP gave the Huge Little Lies alum a particular shout-out in the course of the interview, saying, “I’m very sorry to these folks, Shai and my family members.”
Rodgers added: “I didn’t understand the sort of shrapnel they’d be taking. … Understanding sort of your entire gravity of the scenario I used to be thrust into and determined to talk on a number of instances had an impact on lots of people. To these folks, I simply say, ‘I’m sorry.’”
The skilled athlete got here underneath hearth in November 2021 when he examined optimistic for COVID-19 after beforehand telling reporters that he was “immunized.”
Following his optimistic prognosis, Rodgers claimed he underwent his personal protocol and coverings to “stimulate my immune system to create a protection in opposition to COVID” following his personal “analysis” concerning the vaccine.
The previous College of California, Berkley quarterback was then accused of mendacity to the press about his vaccination standing, which he later denied doing.
“I didn’t lie within the preliminary press convention,” he claimed on The Pat McAfee Present in November 2021. “And on the time my plan was to say I’ve been immunized. It wasn’t some form of ruse or lie … I discovered an immunization protocol that would finest defend me and my teammates. And it was a long-term protocol that concerned a number of months.”
Later that month, Rodgers returned to The Pat McAfee Present and took “full duty for these feedback,” acknowledging that he understood why folks felt “misled” by his preliminary remarks.
By all of the drama, Woodley seemingly had her then-fiancé’s again. In November 2021, the Divergent actress fired again at experiences claiming that Rodgers was seen strolling round Los Angeles when he was imagined to be quarantining in accordance with NFL coverage.
“Actually, y’all have to calm the f—ok down,” she wrote by way of her Instagram Story alongside the picture of the person folks claimed to be the soccer star. “That is straight up HILARIOUS.”
The Rebel actress added: “I do know Aaron’s physique very effectively. First off, his toes, ahem and no offense to this rando dude, are a LOT larger.”
Regardless of sticking by Rodgers’ facet by means of his COVID-19 controversy, Us Weekly confirmed on February 16 that the duo had referred to as it quits. “It was an amicable break up and they’re on good phrases now,” a supply solely instructed Us on the time.
