Bachelorette JoJo Fletcher and fiancé Jordan Rodgers and making the press rounds to show the world how deeply in love they are. So in love that they just couldn’t stay away from each other when the show said they had to. Jordan disguised himself in a wig and hat to sneak in to see his One True Love, that’s how committed he is. Jordan is also taking this opportunity to let everyone know that they have been wrong about him. And it’s hurt him, people, it’s really wounded him. Just because he most likely cheated on his ex-girlfriend and made the focus of his campaign for JoJo about what he would get out of the relationship, that doesn’t mean that people can say these hurtful things out loud. Jordan has had to fight really hard in life, at least, according to Jordan.
His Bachelorette journey culminated with true love and a brand new fiancé in JoJo Fletcher, but for Jordan Rodgers, the hardest part of reality TV came after the cameras stopped rolling.
“It was awful,” Rodgers tells PEOPLE exclusively of the rumors that plagued him throughout the season. Issues with his integrity, family history and even ex-girlfriends abounded, as viewers continually questioned his intentions.
“It hurts because judgment and integrity are things that you build and try to maintain over a lifetime, and it just takes one person [saying something] out of malice that makes news.”
In fact, “my entire life and career has been an uphill battle,” explains Rodgers, 27. “I lived in 13 houses growing up. We never owned a house; we didn’t have money. So when people say I’m entitled, that’s not at all true. It’s tough when people who don’t know me assume that they do.”
A sense of entitlement does not come exclusively from having money. Jordan attended Vanderbilt on a football scholarship. He was drafted but cut by three teams in the NFL before he ever made it off the practice squads. When he landed a spot on the B.C. Lions, he quit before the season started to pursue acting. Even host Chris Harrison questioned Jordan’s intentions for being on the show. Harrington told Yahoo TV, “He’s got game and is very good at wooing JoJo. The billion-dollar question is if he is here to extend his fame or find love.”
To his credit, Jordan is playing the part of being in this only for love. He maintains that he did not go on the show for any ulterior motives, “My goal every step of the way was to be open and honest with JoJo and let myself fall in love.” And his motives paid off – ESPN just hired him as a studio analyst for SEC Now on their SEC Network. Oops, I mean he got engaged to his One True Love.
Photo credit: WENN Photos and Getty Images
Each and every one of them is there for fame. I’m not gonna judge him for it. He should have been a bit more subtle about it though.
I don’t think he’s worse than Robbie or Luke. Or Jojo for that matter.
Has anyone seen BiP? Even though it was his fault, I feel bad for Chad. He is a very messed up person with deep issues and they exploited it in the worst mannor.
It was Chad’s call to go on the show and drink that much. The show producers clearly wanted some drama but it was Chad’s decision to give it to them. I can’t muster up any sort of sympathy for someone who treats women the way Chad did.
I don’t know, if Unreal is based in any kind of reality 50% of it is the producers. He seems horrible, but I still feel bad for him. He’s clearly messed up by his mother’s death, steroids and what not. Usisng that for entertainment is low even for Bachelor standards.
99.9% of it could be the producers, but he didn’t have to agree to it. He still made his decision to say those things, even if they were all fed to him by producers. I agree that using his crap for entertainment is gross and I really dislike that they did, but I don’t feel badly for him.
When Chad was asked to leave, he had a meltdown and yelled, “No, I got nothing. I got nothing! I have nothing in my life!” Only then did I feel for him. You’re right, he does have issues. I don’t think he has coped well with his mother’s death. He seems like an empty person. But! The things he said to Sarah, who was born with one arm, were inexcusable. One-armed b*tch, Army McArmyson? Really? Ugh. I also suspect he is on steroids, as alcohol and steroids do not mix.
I’m not excusing his behaviour at all. He is horrible. But I still feel sorry for him.
I felt sorry for him too. It wasn’t fun to watch.
Yeah I kind of hate-liked him on the Bachelorette – he was a jerk for sure, but he did make some good points about how the other guys were pretending to fall head over heels for JoJo, when he would say “I like her, but I don’t know her that well so I won’t say I’m in love with her yet.” Also, at least Chad was a prick to your face, while guys like Evan and Alex were sh*t-stirrers behind your back then acted innocent and above it all when they got called out on it. Alex especially got his ass handed to him on the Men Tell All episode.
I was excited to see him on Bachelor In Paradise but then he became a nasty, violent drunk, which was scary. That line about “I have nothing” was sad, because it does seem like he’s got some unresolved issues about his mom’s death and stuff, but he’s also a grown-ass man who needs to sort himself out and lay off the booze if this is what he becomes.
The misogynistic comments and especially the insults about Sarah’s arm were the last straw. Simply inexcusable.
A local radio host here was a Bachelor contestant (and finalist) and still has a really cordial relationship with the show folks, but she’s talked about how the whole thing is utterly and completely fake. No one is actually there because they think they’re going to find love, but then because everyone is so isolated and is so constantly fed this competition by the producers, that they eventually do actually get really focused on winning.
I didn’t feel sorry for Chad at all, not on the bachelorette or bip. I felt sorry for the people that had to share the same space as him. It’s good for everyone to see there are people like this in the world (ppl worse than chad even). Far too often, these reality shows tend to fluff the drama with he said she said bs – but in real life, there is a Chad or two on every corner of every street.
I see a ” We have decided to go our separate ways, but remain good friends” statement in the not too distant future. If they actually get married I will be very surprised
I thought this was a pretty lackluster season and I wasn’t impressed with any of the guys. I can’t imagine which one will be tapped to be the next Bachelor. I hope it isn’t Luke. That dude has zero personality and would make a terrible Bachelor. When he was supposed to be super emotional when Jojo sent him packing he still was a robot.
I don’t want Luke to become the next bachelor either. I prefer Derek over him.
I still can’t believe they make these shows
They do help keep some of the mentally ill off of the streets, so there’s that.
Lol. Except that X weeks later they are back on the streets, some arguably in worse shape than before the show.
Happily, the only time I’ve ever seen even a second of these shows is when The Soup would do the ‘reality clip show’ thing. I can’t stand them. And some people I work with get SO into it. I just don’t understand.
I loved watching The Soup’s recaps! Gold. I miss that show.
I watch them with some friends and we giggle/hate-watch. It’s become a weekly tradition that has continued with Bachelor in Paradise.
The producers of the show have done their research on their viewers though. They know there are more people who watch to laugh at the absurd cheddar of the romance parts, as well as the juicy drama, and they for sure play to it.
YES. I just started watching after hating the existence of the franchises and what a big deal people made of them for years.
But I listen to podcasts by the McElroy brothers, and one of them does a bachelor recap podcast called “rose buddies” that I started listening to and it was so funny I had to start watching and you’re so right. They literally cater to a( really simple folk that love america and war vets (so many cuts to the flag and Texas) and b) people who hate watch.
I mean I’d love to be a producer on that show. The creativity and hilarity that goes on in their creative meetings. You hit both groups with the ridiculous over the top antics. I’m addicted now and I’m by ashamed.
Aaron must be dying at the rise of Jordan and his airing of dirty laundry.
MTE. Yikes.
Aaron’s the only person I feel sorry for here.
I can’t take these contestants boo hooing when they act like dirty dogs. Jordan had a girlfriend the very day he left for the show and promised he’d come back to her and was just doing it for fame. Not ex girlfriend. Girlfriend. Yes she’s stupid for thinking he was telling the truth but him getting all indignant when the gossip gets out is ridiculous. No sympathy from me. I remember prior “winners” having the same issues. None of those relationships lasted either.
Oooh he did?
Yes. His last girlfriend isn’t even the same one that shaded him online (the one who is Olivia’s friend). He had another one he left behind, who was left believing they’d be together when he returned.
Wow. His oldest brother seems like a decent person (of the little I know), but Jordan is a huge prick.
Poor baby. *Rolls eyes.* I agree Hecate, that you don’t need money to be entitled. Jordan’s rationale is: “I can’t be entitled because things have never gone my way!”
No, Jordan. You are entitled because you think you deserve the world. He didn’t have money growing up, but he resents that. An unentitled person would recognize that the struggle helped him have hustle and got him where he is today. He’s not as good a football player as his brother, and he resents that as well. He resents being in his brother’s shadow and wants that fame and fortune. But despite resenting his brother, he has no problem riding on Aaron’s coattails. You’re ENTITLED, Jordan.
Exactly! Someone who is entitled believes the world owes him whatever he wants, not because he earned it or really deserves it, but just because he wants it.
Exactly. Entitled people don’t necessarily HAVE it, they just WANT it and feel it’s owed to them.
He only went to Vandy for two years …? As a Vandy alum, I am all for minimizing his association with my school.
Also, no, Jordan, your life has not been an uphill battle. Take a seat.
Georgia Bulldog here and I was trying to remember him. Good to know he wasn’t at Vandy long enough to make an impression.
He probably worked really hard until he Went to the NFL. Then, he realized how tough the game is at the professional level and decided to seek fame.
What a whiner! I feel sorry for him that he moved 13 times growing up. But not for any of his other so-called uphill battles. His parents not ever owning a home does not qualify as an uphill battle. Jordan, you are white, male, raised in 2-parent home and you won the genetic lottery for athleticism. Just these few things alone mean you were born on at least 2nd base. Good for you that you had the discipline to work hard enough in football to get the Vandy scholarship but stop the self-pity party.
Poor little boy. Someone feel sorry for him. No one handed him his dreams on the silver platter he thinks he deserves.
He is the quintessential Trump voter.
I actually thought that, too.
My cousin is uber religious and friends with the Rogers family. I know that she is against gay marriage… Something Aaron has spoken up for and supported. That does not sit well with the rest of the family and their “image”.
That makes a ton of sense. Maybe Aaron rejected a lot of what the family “stood for”. And Jordan used that as an excuse for why they don’t speak but it seems more like he just resents Aaron! Also why did they move so much do you know? I’m thinking it has more to do with chasing the pro football dream than being poor
This is the last time I click on one of his stories. This is the last comment I write that this dude is a total loser. He needs new topics. The best he’s got for him is hustle. I suppose he’s trying to find a way to define himself. Unfortunately it always comes across as an amazingly bad pity party.
FYI- Mr. Rodgers is a chiropractor…not exactly the blue collar upbringing Jordan is trying to imply.
What career?