ESPN sports analyst Pat McAfee apologized after Aaron Rodgers appeared on his talk show and implied that Jimmy Kimmel was among those named in Jeffrey Epstein’s highly anticipated court papers.
McAfee opened his self-titled show on Wednesday by addressing the controversy and attributing Rodgers’ comments to a “bullshit joke” that became a “massive story overnight.” The documents, which were released Wednesday, included the names of Epstein associates and sex trafficking victims, as well as others who were loosely linked to the late disgraced financier but were not accused of wrongdoing. Kimmel was not named in Wednesday’s filings.
“Whenever you are free and negotiating here… your conversations can certainly lead to places that generate international news. And any time allegations are made about people, that can lead to lawsuits,” McAfee said before noting that he had previously faced a lawsuit from Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre, which was dropped, according to McAfee , after he agreed to read a letter. “Claiming that I know nothing that no one else doesn’t know publicly.”
The former football bettor turned sports analyst said his three-and-a-half-hour YouTube talk show gives those who participate the chance to talk about “pretty much everything.” Although there is an advantage to the show’s format, he said, the flip side is that “there could be some things that were probably, I mean, we’re going to have to hear from Aaron about that, meant to be like a joke that then can become something that is obviously a very serious accusation.”
Kimmel and Rodgers had been trading slights publicly for years (Kimmel once called Rodgers a tinfoil hatter and Green Bay bruiser). But on Tuesday, the New York Jets quarterback appeared on “Pat McAfee” and suggested without evidence that the late-night host’s name could appear in Epstein’s documents.
“There are a lot of people, including Jimmy Kimmel, who really hope that doesn’t come out,” Rodgers said.
“I’ll tell you what, if that list comes out, I’ll definitely be opening some kind of bottle,” Rodgers added, while speaking on the show from what appeared to be his wine cellar.
Kimmel quickly responded via social media, reposting a video of Rodgers’ comments on X (formerly Twitter) with a forceful rejection of Rodgers’ comments. “Dear A—: For the record, I have not met Epstein, flown with him, visited him, had any contact with him, nor will you find my name on any ‘list’ other than the clearly bogus nonsense That soft brain. Crazy people like you can’t seem to distinguish reality. Kimmel wrote. “Your reckless words put my family in danger. “Keep it up and we will debate the facts further in court.”
McAfee said Wednesday that he understood why Kimmel responded angrily, but he downplayed Rodgers’ comments as the kind of trash talk that can often occur in locker rooms. “I think Aaron was just trying to talk shit. Did he go too far? “Jimmy Kimmel certainly said that was the case,” McAfee continued. “Aaron and Jimmy, they’ve been fighting a little bit.”
The ESPN sports analyst went on to say that he doesn’t like his show to be associated with anything negative and apologized. “We would like our show to be uplifting, happy and fun, but because we try to make light of everything, some things make people very angry, especially when the accusations are so serious. So we apologize for being a part of this.”
In December, a judge ruled that court documents would be made public, generating frenzied anticipation, especially among the radical right, including some conspiracy theorists.
The publication follows a years-long legal battle and piecemeal revelations. The identities of the people named in the document may provide a more complete picture of Epstein and his associates.
Julie K. Brown, an investigative journalist for the Miami Herald known for exposing Epstein’s crimes and bringing him to justice after many had failed, weighed in on the feud between Kimmel and Rodgers on X, writing “Is @ESPN Are you also unaware that the Jeffrey Epstein case is about the rape of girls? “It is absolutely shameful that the internet allows someone to exploit this tragedy for cheap political material.”
Times staff writer Alexandra E. Petri contributed to this report.
