I got a COVID vaccine at my first opportunity. That being said, I’m not a crusader and definitely try to avoid shaming people whose choices differ from mine. I don’t talk politics because such discussions are just a toxic mess of tribalism, and the vaccine debate is very much the same. So when a famous person, most notably professional athletes, choose not to be vaccinated, I generally abstain from any ensuing debate.
Naturally, this makes you question my headline. Green Bay Packers quarterback has been much in the news after testing positive for COVID after saying this past fall that he had been “immunized”. He was not vaccinated and will miss at least two games after his positive test. He has said he did not lie and had undergone alternate treatments to boost his immune system. However, when posed that question about his vaccination status, the first word out of his mouth was “Yes”. Further on his response he said, “There are guys on the team that haven’t been vaccinated. I think it’s a personal decision. I’m not going to judge those guys.” Clearly, he is indicating that he is not among the “guys” who have not been vaccinated. Add it all up, and Aaron Rodgers is definitely a big fat liar.
But wait, there’s more. And this is where I find him even more disdainful. Aaron Rodgers is a coward. I don’t say this because he has refused to be vaccinated. Fellow NFL player Cole Beasley and several NBA players, Kyrie Irving probably the most famous, are among professional athletes who have publicly voiced their refusal to be vaccinated. I disagree with their decisions, but I appreciate their honesty and admire the courage they have demonstrated. Aaron Rodgers, on the other hand, blamed his lie on “the woke mob”, “cancel culture”, and reporters who failed to ask follow-up questions. I call bull shit.
First of all, Mr. Rodgers, your response to the question very clearly suggested that you were actually vaccinated. YOU FUCKING LIED, and now you’re acting like a little child who was caught in that lie. Be a man and own up to the fact that YOU FUCKING LIED. Don’t try to blame anyone else. I do understand how annoying people can be on the issue, and I could forgive you for refusing to answer questions about your vaccination status. Admittedly, that would have made the answer rather obvious as happened with some other famous athletes, but it would’ve been better than your cowardly lie.
I don’t care if Aaron Rodgers chooses to get vaccinated or not. I took my two shots and will take whatever boosters come along. Kyrie Irving has refused based on his belief in body autonomy and is losing millions of dollars as a result. Although I’ve made a different choice, I respect Kyrie Irving for his efforts and admire his courage. Aaron Rodgers has displayed no such courage. Aaron Rodgers chose to lie and showed the world that he is a coward.