The week began with Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers causing a ruckus on ESPN, where he sharply criticized Dr. Anthony Fauci — and ESPN. The appearance prompted sharp criticism of Rodgers.
Rodgers has since insisted that he doesn’t care.
“I don’t give a [crap] about anything that people think about me unless they’re in my corner and I would ask them for advice,” Rodgers told Jarrett Bell of USA Today.
“I don’t care about the criticism from people like that,” Rodgers said. “Most people have made up their mind about me, so it doesn’t matter what I say. It’s not going to change their mind because most people aren’t listening to the content of your words. They’re wanting to attack your character because they think you’re MAGA or they think you’re whatever tag they put on you — conspiracy theorist, anti-science. They’ve already made up their mind about me before this.”
But the stuff Rodgers said on Monday reinforces, and confirms, those preconceived notions. If, after all, someone is regarded as MAGA or a conspiracy theorist or anti-science and that person then says things consistent with one or more of those labels, why would anyone feel any differently than they already do?
Besides, other things Rodgers told Bell contradict his “I don’t give a shit” vibe. Rodgers explained that he posted photos of his recent reconciliation with his estranged family not to celebrate the occasion but to counter lingering criticism of his perceived role in cutting them off.
“I feel like it was part of the full-circle nature of this last season for me,” Rodgers told Bell. “There’s been a narrative out there. There’s not been a lot of information that’s truthful about it. And I think that the personal life should stay personal and private. . . .
“But I feel like it was part of the full-circle to just one-time post something, and never again. So that that narrative can finally be put to rest.”
If Rodgers doesn’t care what people think of him “unless they’re in my corner and I would ask them for advice,” why violate his “personal and private” life to “shut down” a narrative that doesn’t trouble him? If he truly doesn’t give a shit what anyone thinks, why would he give a shit about shutting down their narratives?
Rodgers is a complicated figure, to be sure. And there are plenty of inconsistencies in the things he says and does.
Since he doesn’t care if anyone outside his inner circle thinks that, he won’t care that someone is pointing it out.
