"I take full responsibility ": When Aaron Rodgers owned up to his 'misleading' COVID advice

Aaron Rodgers often makes headlines, both for his exceptional football skills and for the controversies that surround him. Recently, Ian O'Connor's biography of the quarterback, "Out of the Darkness: The Mystery of Aaron Rodgers," delved into many of these off-field controversies.

One particularly notable one arose during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Rodgers refused to get vaccinated and claimed to be immunized. Although the four-time MVP has since publicly acknowledged his mistake, it's difficult for fans to forget.

During a 2021 podcast with Pat McAfee, Rodgers took full responsibility for his 'misleading' comments:

"I made some comments that people might have felt were misleading. And to anybody who felt misled by those comments, I take full responsibility for those comments."

He also acknowledged the impact of his words on the public:

"I understand that this issue, in general, is very charging to a lot of people because we are talking about public health. I totally respect that."

He further added:

"I made a decision that was in the best interest based on consulting with my doctors. And I understand that not everybody is going to understand that necessarily. But I respect everybody’s opinion."

Rodgers further discussed his controversial views on COVID-19 vaccination during an appearance on the Joe Rogan podcast. His refusal to vaccinate led to him being benched by the Packers due to COVID-19 protocols.

Recalling the incident on the Rogan show, Rodgers revealed that he attempted to petition for the use of a homeopathic treatment he had been trying. According to him, this self-developed treatment helped create antibodies that could serve as an alternative to Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines.

Aaron Rodgers still wouldn't prefer to get vaccinated

However, Rodgers had a valid reason for not getting vaccinated: he was allergic to an ingredient in Moderna and Pfizer's vaccines. He believed his alternative treatment was "what was best for my body."

This isn't entirely surprising from a figure known for his unconventional views, including his use of ayahuasca.

Three years later, Rodgers still regrets his initial statements. In his book, he wrote:

"If there's one thing I wish could have gone different, it's that, because that's the only thing (critics) could hit me with."

Nevertheless, he maintains that he would have preferred to avoid vaccination by disclosing his allergy and appealing the decision.