I heard a record scratch when I read this headline about Green Bay Packer Aaron Rodgers. Aaron is known for being a great quarterback and strictly controlling of his image. So when I saw that he had sort-of gone on the record about his relationship with Olivia Munn, whom he dated for about two years, I wondered what the hell he was selling. Aaron doesn’t speak about much that isn’t football. For instance, he still won’t talk about his family, with whom he is estranged. Rodgers’ family blamed Olivia for their estrangement from him, but even then Aaron refused to elaborate on their situation. In a recent interview with ESPN, Aaron commented on the difficulties of dating a public person.
Speaking his truth. Aaron Rodgers opened up about his high-profile split from Olivia Munn in a new interview.
The NFL quarterback, 33, blamed the price of fame for placing “increased strain” on his romance with the X-Men: Apocalypse actress, 37. “When you are living out a relationship in the public eye, it’s definitely … it’s difficult,” he explained to ESPN The Magazine in a profile published on Wednesday, August 30 — though he didn’t mention her by name. “It has some extra constraints because you have other opinions about your relationship, how it affects your work and, you know, just some inappropriate connections.”
In the full interview on ESPN.com, the reporter pressed Aaron whether he is referring to the people who blamed Aaron’s bad season on Olivia. Aaron nods and said, “They’re such misogynists, right?” Good for Aaron. When they first broke up, Aaron and Olivia were taking shots at each other in the press and I think many of us thought this was going to get messy. Since Aaron has moved on, supposedly, and Olivia is adamant she doesn’t care what Aaron does, it’s nice that Aaron is still defending her. It would be easy to let her take the blame but he’s not because, of course, it was never her fault.
I am curious about the ongoing interest in their now-former relationship, though. I wasn’t particularly interested in them when they were together and I like both of them just fine. I wonder if it is a by-product of his hyper-managed image? I don’t find Aaron that much of a mystery. He likes control and that’s probably why he’s such a good QB. He and Olivia met somewhat halfway between his desire to direct how he is perceived and her desire to put their romance in the spotlight. But I guess the interest in them hasn’t gone away so I’m just glad he’s backing her up because yes, the misogyny in the NFL world is rampant.
Man, but I do love seeing him when he’s on
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He hates the spolitght so much he’s talking about his relationship in an interview..ok jan.
Eh, I give him a pass because he was asked and presumably trying to be candid. It’s not like he spilled his feelings out in some thirsty IG post.
I agree.
The interviewer notes that Aaron is very measured and careful with his answers, and he really didn’t talk about Olivia, just generalities about the difficulty of dating publicly. I thought the article was interesting and he was very thoughtful about how winning the Super Bowl didn’t necessarily bring him the peace he desired. Now he is getting clobbered online by the nitwits who complain that he didn’t immediately want another ring, as if football is the only thing that matters. I have always liked Aaron, and the interview made me like him more.
He has said she wasn’t to blame for anything between his family and I fail to see how running to the public to drag her was supposed to bring them closer.
My theory is the family was troubled before she ever came along. To cut your entire family out of your life is not a small decision.
His father publicly said that Aaron’s fame changed him. By the time Aaron was a professional player he was used to being treated like he was special. He wasn’t just a good high school player he is now considered one of the best ever. He is used to having his butt kissed and being known. Not NFL level but enough he wouldn’t become some ego monster suddenly.
So nope Pops but nice try. I guess no one told him about the Jon Voight rule.
It says a lot about a guy who at least realizes misogyny was the reason she was blamed for everything. Good job Aaron.
As someone who’s contemplating breaking away from my family, we have no idea what the cause of the rift was between them. Personality disorders are often to blame. There’s a good chance emotional, physical or sexual abuse was a factor, either perpetrated by the nuclear family or enabled/given a pass/not taken seriously by them. Given the emphasis society places on family, the decision to walk away is extremely difficult for a child. If a child walks away from the family, I tend to believe the family was seriously dysfunctional. I’m sorry for whatever Aaron has experienced.
Are we gonna pretend his former live-in “personal assistant” didn’t air him out on social media a few years ago?? That’s the break-up I wanna read about. At the very least he’s bisexual. I know there’s tremendous pressure for pro athletes to stay closeted. Hopefully one day if he decides to talk relationships again, it’ll be with openness and honesty.
Oh, who cares what his sexual orientation is?
Apparently he and his advisers care a lot. People who aren’t straight have every right to obnoxiously overshare about their relationships and break-ups just like straight people do. Normalize it. “Who cares” is a form of erasure.
This interview was so strange. The first third about it was Aaron’s views on religion and Christianity, which surprised me. And it seemed a bit disingenuous — he talks about how it’s hard to talk politics/controversial issues in the NFL, and then basically comes out against organized religion. I can’t imagine that point of view goes over well in Green Bay. Like, how is it okay to share your thoughts about that, but then given a tepid response on Colin Kapernick? I mean, good for him, but I would much rather read a person’s views on political issues than their views on religion (like, GMAFB).
He also did talk about another NFL player who came out as gay after he retired. If he is gay or bi, I don’t blame him for not coming out. The grief he’d get in the locker room and from fans — spoken and unspoken — would be enough for me to not want to come out either.
Living in Green Bay for the last 12 years, I can assure you that he is well respected as an athlete and well liked as a member of the community. He’s just another patron when you see him at a grocery store, or Chives, a very popular restaurant. Green Bay isn’t a bastion of conservative values, for pete’s sake. Just like anywhere else, there are all kinds of people, from all walks of life.
When you change in the same room as people though, it can make coming out difficult. Just what I noticed amongst the athletes I knew. Most came out after their ‘careers’ were done, but maybe thats just the one I know.
Don’t you just love when people make assumptions about small towns that are never “polite”. Prejudices come in many forms.
His family makes me feel icky. I feel like they all have Tall Poppy Syndrome.
“Oh no, Aaron made it big but otherbrotherdouchebro didn’t and Aaron isn’t using his resources towards our mediocre kid?! He’s a monster!! How dare he not ruin his own reputation doing everything he can?!?!!”
That’s basically what I hear in my head anytime his family comes to.
Agreed, they seem really toxic.
Reminds me a little bit of the relatives in my dad’s “old country” that would continually demand money from him just because he lived in the US and they didn’t. He struggled to make ends meet for decades after living in refugee camps during WWII, making it to the US and struggling with life in a new country, working two and three jobs to make ends meet for years. But all his (distant, not even immediate family) relatives could think about was about how “selfish” he was not to fork a chunk of his paychecks over to them. Ugh.
I’m sure he has trust issues. Being discarded by your family is tough.
Growing up in a strict Christian household and discovering that it’s not a good fit for the way you live your life takes introspection and courage and I commend him for that.
I think moving away from that strict Christian mindset likely changed him more than fame.
When your family decides they are done with you, that’s jarring and I can see why he chooses his words carefully Bc it is so difficult not to go off the rails and vent. His composure proves he takes the high road imo.
Olivia discussed “when” they’d get married and she is older than Aaron so I can see why their breakup may have been bitter if he was simply not ready.
I like him. I feel sad for him because IMHO I believe he is gay and feels pressured into having beard. That being said, he spoke about his”relationship” to divert negativity away from Munn.
What a great interview. As to his family, this interview says what I always thought- introspection has caused him to outgrow the restrictive dogma of his family’s religion. Interesting that such philosophical growth came from his experiences in the NFL, and life preceding it. He seems like a really fine human being. I have a great deal more respect for him now, reading about the well -rounded person he is, rather than just the athlete we knew.
I agree. That really was a great interview with very thoughtful answers by him.