Aaron Rodgers and Shailene Woodley react to vaccination status backlash

Green Bay, Wisconsin – Aaron Rodgers has spoken out yet again, and this time his fiancé Shailene Woodley chimed in.

Aaron Rodgers appeared on the Pat McAfee show yet again to comment on the backlash, while Shailene Woodley used Instagram to speak her mind.
Aaron Rodgers appeared on the Pat McAfee show yet again to comment on the backlash, while Shailene Woodley used Instagram to speak her mind.  © Collage: IMAGO/ZUMA Wire & PanoramiC

The Green Bay Packers quarterback returned to the Pat McAfee Show on Tuesday for his "Aaron Rodgers Tuesday" segment.

Before delving into the nitty-gritty of football chatter, McAfee hit Rodgers with several questions about the backlash since his unvaccinated status came to light after testing positive for Covid-19, and about his current whereabouts.

Prior to his appearance on Tuesday, the Daily Mail published in a since-edited story claiming Rodgers broke his quarantine requirement and instead was in Los Angeles.

Mike Tyson slaps Jake Paul in final face-off before Netflix bout
Athletes Mike Tyson slaps Jake Paul in final face-off before Netflix bout

While Rodgers shut the rumor down in the first few minutes of his interview with McAfee, his fiancé Shailene Woodley had some choice words to share on his behalf.

In a since-expired Instagram Story, Woodley posted a photo that the Daily Mail alleged was Rodgers along with some on-screen text to further explain why it was, in fact, not her boo.

"Literally ya'll [sic] need to calm the f*** down. This is straight up hilarious. News outlets still grasping at straws to disparage Aaron," Woodley wrote.

She continued in his defense by pointing out the size of the "random" man's feet that was photographed and mistaken for Rodgers.

"I know Aaron's body. Very well. First off, his feet, ahem and no offense to this rando dude, are a lot bigger," Woodley said, followed by a winky face emoji to insinuate the statement eludes something raunchier than just his shoe size.

It seems that Woodley's comments struck a cord with the Daily Mail, as the publication has since removed the claim.

Rodgers stands by his statements

Shailene Woodley's Instagram Story defending her fiancé, Aaron Rodgers.
Shailene Woodley's Instagram Story defending her fiancé, Aaron Rodgers.  © Screenshot/Instagram/shailenewoodley

When Rodgers was welcome on to the Pat McAfee show Tuesday, the host referenced the alleged sighting in LA, and Rodgers quickly verified that he was, in fact, still quarantining in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

During the interview, the 37-year-old athlete acknowledged he's a role model to many, and owned up to his contribution to the confusion surrounding his vaccination status.

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

Cowboys coach reveals quarterback Dak Prescott's future after major injury
Athletes Cowboys coach reveals quarterback Dak Prescott's future after major injury

In regard to the reports that he was upset with the backlash that ensued after his last appearance on McAfee's show – where he admitted to taking ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine to fight off Covid-19 – Rodgers told the host, "I don't feel like there's a need to address that."

Last week, Rodgers tested positive for Covid-19, and was immediately placed in a 10-day quarantine – a move that unveiled his unvaccinated status, and led to an investigation by the NFL regarding whether he and the team broke safety protocols.

On Tuesday night, the NFL confirmed that Rodgers did, in fact, break protocol, as did the Packers.

Both were subsequently fined, with Rodgers being handed a $14,000 fine, while the Packers received a hefty $300,000 fine.

Cover photo: Collage: IMAGO/ZUMA Wire & PanoramiC

More on Athletes: