CNN reported this week that New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers had allegedly shared “deranged conspiracy theories” regarding the tragic shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012.
According to the report, Rodgers purportedly expressed the belief that the shooting was an inside job.
CNN knows of two people with whom Rodgers has enthusiastically shared these stories, including with Pamela Brown, one of the journalists writing this piece.
Brown was covering the Kentucky Derby for CNN in 2013 when she was introduced to Rodgers, then with the Green Bay Packers, at a post-Derby party. Hearing that she was a journalist with CNN, Rodgers immediately began attacking the news media for covering up important stories. Rodgers brought up the tragic killing of 20 children and 6 adults by a gunman at Sandy Hook Elementary School, claiming it was actually a government inside job and the media was intentionally ignoring it.
However, on Thursday afternoon, Rodgers broke his silence on the matter, stating that he has never doubted the occurrence of the Sandy Hook shooting.
“As I’m on the record saying in the past, what happened in Sandy Hook was an absolute tragedy. I am not and have never been of the opinion that the events did not take place,” Rodgers clarified on social media. “Again, I hope that we learn from this and other tragedies to identify the signs that will allow us to prevent unnecessary loss of life. My thoughts and prayers continue to remain with the families affected along with the entire Sandy Hook community.”
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This statement from Rodgers was crucial in addressing the concerns raised by numerous NFL fans who criticized him upon reading the initial report from CNN. Many found it disgraceful, particularly given the loss of over two dozen lives on that tragic day.
While Rodgers has been known for expressing unconventional opinions in the past, his social media activity suggests that questioning the legitimacy of the Sandy Hook shooting is not among them.