Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has publicly apologized to Shailene Woodley for the firestorm she was caught in after she lied about her COVID vaccination status.
Talking to the ex Indiana Colts player Pat McAfee on his YouTube show on Tuesday, Rogers, 38, said he regretted involving loved ones in his vaccination scandal.
He came under fire after testing positive for COVID in November and was found not to have been vaccinated against COVID, although he claimed in the summer that he had been immunized as required by the National Football League.
Instead, the star quarterback received a doctor-prescribed therapeutic treatment for the virus, for which he tested positive in early November. He later said he had fought with his own COVID-19 infection with recommendations from a podcaster, a friend and a well-known vaccine skeptic, Joe Rogan.
For months, Rodgers was plagued by media frenzy as critics criticized him for lying about his vaccination status and sharing “misleading” information about the vaccine.
But after a 12-day clean-up on Tuesday, Rodgers said he now understood “the full weight” of the situation and specifically apologized to Woodley.
“One thing I’m sad about and I definitely apologize for is that I didn’t realize in the middle of the conversation with COVID how much my situation affected my loved ones and my people,” Rodgers told The Pat McAfee Show.
Aaron Rodgers, a quarterback of the Green Bay Packers, came under fire last year after it was revealed that he had not actually been vaccinated against COVID – despite earlier claims that he had been immunized against the virus.
Speaking to former Indiana Colts player Pat McAfee on his YouTube show on Tuesday, Rodgers, 38, said he regretted involving relatives in the scandal.
“I didn’t realize the kind of shrapnel that was separate from what I felt the bullets coming at me.”
He went on to say that he “never wanted to break up” and was just trying to “tell what is my truth” before apologizing to his loved ones, including Woodley – for whom it may or may not be still engaged.
“I am very sorry for these people – Shai, my relatives and my agents,” he said. “I just want to say to these people that I’m sorry. I never wanted to get you into this … I have a lot of remorse for that.
The football star, who recently won her fourth NFL MVP award, also thanked Woodley for her support throughout the season.
Rodgers began dating the 30-year-old actress in mid-2020, with Rodgers naming Woodley as his fiancée in February 2021.
Almost exactly a year later, there were reports that the couple had ended their engagement – with many citing a photo of the star of the Big Little Lies without her engagement ring.
But on Monday, Rodgers thanked Woodley in an Instagram post, sharing photos from last year, including one of the couple snuggled on the couch.
“Thank you for letting me chase you for the first few months after we met, and finally for allowing me to catch up with you and be a part of your life,” he wrote to Woodley in the captions.
“Thank you for always standing up for me, for the incredible kindness you show me and everyone you meet, and for showing me what unconditional love looks like, I love you and I am grateful for you,” he added.
The interview came a day after Rodgers posted this old photo of him and actress Shailene Woodley huddled on the couch, and expressed his gratitude to her in an Instagram post
When asked about this post on Tuesday, Rodgers said he was “very grateful to everyone in my life” after completing a 12-day cleanup.
“Last year I looked at some old photos and was very grateful for the life I have and the lessons I have learned and the growth that has taken place over the last year and the people who have been part of this journey,” he said. attributes his success in the field of happy home life.
He said he had recently spoken to head coach Matt Lafleur about his continued success and the people who made it possible.
“I used to be annoyed with Matt when I mentioned it in my speech [accepting the MVP award] that three years together, two MVPs, no matches.
“And I also told Shai that I’ve been with you for two seasons and won two MVPs, as if that’s not a coincidence, and that’s what I mean.
“When your home life is stable and you have an amazing partner to live with, it just makes working life a bonus,” Rodgers explained, adding that a happy home life allows him to stay stress-free and just enjoy the game.
“I know for myself, it’s been great to have that stability at home for the last two seasons and I’m thinking about the other wives of my teammates who are just rock stars,” he said, repeating: “When things are good in your personal life … it allows you to just relax and be much more grateful, think of the little things in life.
“Congratulations to all the women who support the boys,” he added.
At that moment, McAfee asked him if he had “found” himself in his relationship with Woodley.
“Yes, no doubt,” he said immediately. I learned a lot from her.
“When you meet your man, your life just changes,” he said.
Woodley has not yet commented publicly on their relationship.