Megan Udinski, FISM News
Aaron Rodgers is speaking out against the harsh response from the ‘woke mob’ and ‘cancel culture’ that he has received after testing positive for COVID-19.
FISM previously reported that ”the NFL’s vaccine protocols heavily favor players who test positive but have been vaccinated more than those who test positive without vaccination.” After Rodgers tested positive Wednesday morning, he came under siege for what many in the NFL feel was deceiving reporters in a press conference in August where he stated he was “immunized.”
On Friday afternoon, Rodgers appeared on The Pat McAfee Show to clarify how he made a personal medical decision to not get the COVID-19 vaccine, the treatment he has undergone since coming down with the virus, and that he was not misleading in the August interview.
With an open floor on the show he bluntly told the host, “I realize I’m in the crosshairs of the woke mob right now. So before my final nail gets put in my cancel culture casket, I think I would like to set the record straight on so many of the blatant lies that are out there about myself.”
He explained how he did not lie in the press-conference in August, saying he was “immunized,” but felt that the press was on a witch-hunt for those who had not been vaccinated. He was prepared to clarify, had there been any follow-up questions, that he is not an “anti-vax flat earther” but a critical thinker who believes in bodily autonomy and that he spent a lot of time researching his medical options before making a thoughtful decision.
After finding out that he was allergic to one of the ingredients in the mRNA vaccines, two of the three vaccine candidates were no longer an option for him. According to the CDC website, if one is allergic to any of the ingredients in a vaccine, they should not get it. This left the J&J vaccine as his only option, but in light of some of the blood clotting adverse reactions, the vaccine got pulled in April.
With all three vaccine candidates ruled out for him, Rodgers, along with a medical team, came up with a long-term alternative for an immunization plan to keep his teammates and himself safe, which he is choosing to keep between him and his physician. He then petitioned the NFL to count him as immunized, and they declined his status as vaccinated in spite of 500 pages of research he had done to support his personal decision.
Another factor in his decision-making is the desire to be a father. Since the vaccines have no studies on the long-term effects, he was hesitant to consider getting a jab that could affect his fertility or render him impotent.
Later in the interview Rodgers says he conformed to the NFL’s COVID protocols for unvaccinated individuals. These include daily testing, which is a different standard for vaccinated players who are only required to be tested every two weeks, even though they can still transmit the virus. The protocols also include masks and social distancing while in the facility, even when working out, not being able to spend time with teammates even if a test came back negative that day, and having to wear a yellow bracelet indicating the player is unvaccinated.
Aaron Rodgers’ treatment plan, based on the guidance of podcaster and friend Joe Rogan, includes taking monoclonal antibodies, zinc, vitamins C and D, ivermectin, and hydroxychloroquine. He points out that “health should not be political.” We should not throw out or conform to a health regimen based on who supports it, such as Donald Trump promoting ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine.
Now he will have a greater level of immunization than those who have been vaccinated, citing a study in Israel of 2.5 million people which states that those who contract the virus and recover have stronger immunity.
The host of the show, Pat McAfee, shared his personal experience of being fully vaccinated, contracting the coronavirus, and falling terribly ill with a 104 fever. As Rodgers emphasized in his interview, health is not a one-size-fits-all approach, and it needs to be considered on an individual basis.
Near the end of his explanation, Aaron quoted Martin Luther King, Jr., who said, “You have a moral obligation to object to unjust rules and rules that make no sense.” Many took to Twitter bashing Aaron Rodgers, claiming he was comparing his situation to MLK, Jr., saying there are two justice systems, one for Rodgers and one for Colin Kaepernick, and claiming Rodgers is experiencing “white privilege” if he is not reprimanded by the NFL.
Many conservatives appreciate that he is calling for people to think for themselves and consider the idea that there’s not a lot of money in healing people. Rodgers advocates for teaching people how to live healthier lives and trying to engage in the conversation surrounding the COVID vaccines, rather than adding to the controversy.