Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports

Lately, Aaron Rodgers has been at the top of the headlines. Whether it’s for potentially running for Vice President office under Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s presidential reign or alleged for spreading the Sandy Hook conspiracy theories, the quarterback’s name is all over the news. 

It all began after the New York Jets quarterback’s name became a serious pick for Vice President candidate by Kennedy Jr. in the upcoming elections.

Shortly after that, a CNN report was released alleging Rodgers of cooking up conspiracy theories and spreading them privately regarding the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, which took away 26 lives of children and adults. 

The former NFL MVP’s name stole the center stage of the huge controversy, just as he is likely to make a political debut. ESPN’s Mina Kimes recently addressed the controversy during her appearance on LeBatardShow

I think it’s pretty telling that when the story came out, the universal reaction was kind of people saying, ‘I’m not surprised,’ which is pretty stunning. [Because] Typically, if a story like that came out about maybe anyone else at this point in professional sports, people would be pretty shocked. Said Kimes on Rodgers’ name involved in the controversy. 

Kimes emphasized that though Rodgers doesn’t remain a “particularly interesting person,” as his name in these controversies is predictable, what’s interesting is how people react to him. 

I’m kinda wondering what happens next for him in the public imagination, setting aside the VP aspect of it all. Because this is pretty reputation-damaging stuff. She added further

Aaron Rodgers clarifies his stance on the Sandy Hook tragedy

With his name at the center of the Sandy Hook controversy, Rodgers released a statement on X amidst his candidacy for the vice president’s office. The Jets’ quarterback called the 2012 Sandy Hook an “absolute tragedy.”

He attempted to clear his name from the whole saga, saying he never said the shooting didn’t happen. They said that such a tragedy is more like a lesson for people to avoid unnecessary losses in the future. 

The reason why Sandy Hook conspiracy theories gained traction in the media is because they were named alongside the Columbine shooting and the Oklahoma City bombing tragedy. Both are infamous tragic incidents of violence. 

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