Pat McAfee apologizes for Aaron Rodgers linking Jimmy Kimmel to Jeffrey Epstein

ESPN sports analyst Pat McAfee apologized Wednesday for quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ prior comments on his show suggesting that comedian Jimmy Kimmel had ties to Jeffrey Epstein.

On Tuesday’s episode of “The Pat McAfee Show,” Rodgers discussed the list of Epstein’s associates that is set to be publicly unsealed by a federal judge later this month. He said that, “There’s a lot of people, including Jimmy Kimmel, really hoping that doesn’t come out” and that, “If that lists comes out, I definitely will be popping some sort of bottle.”

After the episode aired on Tuesday, Kimmel called out Rodgers on X/Twitter and threatened legal action: “Dear Asshole: for the record, I’ve not met, flown with, visited, or had any contact whatsoever with Epstein, nor will you find my name on any ‘list’ other than the clearly-phony nonsense that soft-brained wackos like yourself can’t seem to distinguish from reality. Your reckless words put my family in danger. Keep it up and we will debate the facts further in court.”

Host McAfee addressed the Rodgers-Kimmel feud Tuesday with an apology, saying that Rodgers was “just trying to talk shit.”

“I can see exactly why Jimmy Kimmel felt the way he felt, especially with his position. But I think Aaron was just trying to talk shit. But did it go too far? Jimmy Kimmel certainly said that was the case,” McAfee said.

“We obviously don’t like the fact that we’re associated with anything negative ever. We like our show to be an uplifting one, a happy one, a fun one. But it’s because we talk shit and try to make light of everything. Some things obviously people get very pissed off about, especially when they’re that serious allegations, so we apologize for being a part of it.”

McAfee added, “Can’t wait to hear what Aaron has to say about it. Hopefully those two will just be able to settle this. Not court-wise, but be able to chitchat, move along.”

Rodgers and Kimmel have traded jabs at each other previously. After Rodgers discussed Epstein and UFOs on an appearance on McAfee’s show last year, Kimmel mocked the New York Jets quarterback on his late-night show, saying “it might be time to revisit the concussion protocol, Aaron.” He has called Rodgers a “tin-foil hatter” and joked about his skepticism to the COVID vaccine.

“The only thing worse than not getting vaccinated when you’re in close proximity with other people is letting them think you’re vaccinated when you’re not,” Kimmel said in 2021 after Rodgers tested positive for COVID despite saying he was “immunized.” “It’s basically the COVID equivalent of ‘The condom fell off.’”