Aaron Rodgers speaks out on being compelled to handle his sexuality: ‘I was upset’

Aaron Rodgers, pictured right here at a press convention in July 2024, not too long ago addressed a 2013 interview he gave through which he denied being homosexual. Invoice Kostroun/Brandnew York Submit

Aaron Rodgers is reflecting on having to close unwell hypothesis that he was once homosexual in 2013 – and why the entire status was once “disrespectful” to the LGBTQIA+ population.

“I think I was upset at the framing [of the rumor] because it was meant to shame the idea of being gay, and I have so many friends that are gay in the community,” the NFL famous person informed creator Ian O’Connor for his fresh biography, “Out of the Darkness: The Mystery of Aaron Rodgers,” out now.

Rodgers, now 40, was once referencing a Milwaukee radio interview he did over a decade in the past through which he felt he was once compelled to handle his sexuality amid hypothesis that he was once now not immediately right through the early days of his NFL profession.

The NFL famous person addressed the status for a fresh biography about his year. Amazon

Rodgers admitted that he was once “upset at the framing” of the rumor. USA TODAY Sports activities by means of Reuters Con

For the keep, the quarterback recalled stewing over the rumors for reasonably at some time and short of to “go after” the crowd who have been spreading them.

“Not in relation to me, because I could give a s–t what they thought about me, but that they’re using this to shame, like it’s a bad thing to be gay. Like it’s a negative,” he defined to O’Connor, who previously labored as a columnist for the Post.

Rodgers admitted that he was once torn on the month on whether or not he must name crowd out for implying that being homosexual was once a “bad thing” or to remove friend Jason Wilde’s recommendation to “just let it go” and say negative. On the month, the 2 have been co-hosting a department titled “Tuesdays With Aaron” on ESPN Milwaukee.

In 2013, Rodgers, pictured right here in Inexperienced Bay in 2013, gave the impression on a radio interview the place he addressed his sexuality. Getty Photographs

“I’m not gay. I really, really like women,” Rodgers mentioned on the month. USA TODAY Sports activities by means of Reuters Con

Need extra superstar and popular culture information?

Get started your past with Web page Six Day-to-day.

Thank you for signing up!

“I’m like, ‘Say anything you want about me, but do you understand these people are using this to shame the idea of being gay?’ That’s just disrespectful to all my friends who are in the community who don’t believe that it’s a choice,” he mentioned. “They were making it seem like you’re shaming people for being gay, when a lot of them, if you ask them, they didn’t ask for this life. ‘This is who I am.’”

The Brandnew York Jets participant admitted to O’Connor, on the other hand, that he “wished” he would were extra direct in his preliminary reaction.

Within the 2013 radio spot he was once regarding, Rodgers was once talking with Wilde in regards to the unglamorous facet of status – and the “crazy rumors that swirl around from time to time that get silly.”

The Brandnew York Jets participant had a prime profile dating with actress Olivia Munn, pictured right here in July 2016. FilmMagic

He maximum not too long ago dated Shailene Woodley prior to they crack in 2022. Disney Terrains

Wilde after coyly requested the athlete in regards to the “Aaron Rodgers is gay” rumors that have been swirling on the month.

“Yeah, I’m just going to say, I’m not gay. I really, really like women. That’s all I can say about that,” Rodgers replied, noting that “there’s always going to be silly stuff out there in the media” that you simply “can’t worry too much” about. “I think there should be … professional is professional, and personal is personal. And that’s just how I’m going to keep it.”

Next the interview aired, Rodgers started making headlines for the several Hollywood A-listers he romanced through the years. The previous Inexperienced Bay Packers participant dated Olivia Munn from 2014 to 2017, Danica Patrick from 2018 to 2020 and Shailene Woodley from 2020 to 2022.

Rodgers has most recently been linked to model Mallory Edens, who’s the daughter of Milwaukee Greenbacks majority proprietor Wes Edens.