Aaron Rodgers speaks out on being forced to address his sexuality in 2013: ‘I was upset’

Aaron Rodgers is reflecting on the need to address speculation about his sexuality in 2013 and why he found the situation “disrespectful” to the LGBTQIA+ community.

“I think I was upset at the way the rumor was presented because it was meant to shame the idea of being gay, and I have many gay friends in the community,” the NFL star told author Ian O’Connor in his new biography, “Out of the Darkness: The Mystery of Aaron Rodgers.”

Rodgers, now 40, was referring to an interview he did on Milwaukee radio over a decade ago where he felt compelled to address his sexuality amid rumors about his sexual orientation during the early years of his NFL career.

In the book, the quarterback recalled being bothered by the rumors and wanting to confront the people spreading them.

“Not for myself, because I don’t care what they think of me, but the fact that they’re using this to shame, as if being gay is a bad thing. It’s disrespectful to my friends in the community who don’t see it as a choice,” he explained to O’Connor, a former columnist for the Post.

Rodgers admitted that at the time, he was torn between calling out those who implied being gay was negative or following his friend Jason Wilde’s advice to “let it go” and say no. At the time, the two were co-hosting a segment called “Tuesdays With Aaron” on ESPN Milwaukee.

“I’m like, ‘Say whatever you want about me, but do you realize that they’re using this to shame the idea of being gay?’ That’s disrespectful to all my friends in the community who believe this is who they are,” he said. “They were making it seem like being gay is something to be ashamed of, when many of them, if you ask, didn’t choose this life. ‘This is who I am.'”

The New York Jets player confessed to O’Connor that he wished he had been more direct in his initial response.

In the 2013 radio interview, Rodgers was discussing the less glamorous side of fame with Wilde and the “crazy rumors that swirl around from time to time and get silly.”

Wilde then subtly asked the athlete about the swirling “Aaron Rodgers is gay” rumors at the time.

“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 responded, noting that there will always be silly rumors in the media that shouldn’t be taken too seriously. “I think there should be a separation between professional and personal life. That’s how I’m going to approach it.”

After the interview, Rodgers made headlines for his relationships with several Hollywood A-listers over the years. The former Green Bay Packers player 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, the daughter of Milwaukee Bucks majority owner Wes Edens.