Olivia Munn reportedly returned Christmas gifts from Aaron Rodgers’ parents during a tense and ongoing family feud that escalated early in their relationship, according to a new book.
The incident is detailed in the upcoming release, Out of Darkness: The Mystery of Aaron Rodgers, and has sparked renewed interest in the rocky dynamics between the NFL star, his girlfriend at the time, and his family.
The book, written by Ian O’Connor, claims that Munn sent back the Christmas presents to Ed and Darla Rodgers’ home in Chico, California, with the package arriving on Ed’s birthday. The Rodgers parents initially thought they were receiving birthday gifts from their son and his girlfriend, only to be disappointed when they discovered their own returned presents inside the box.
This alleged act of defiance from Munn came after she reportedly disinvited Aaron’s parents from attending a Green Bay Packers game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a decision that further strained the relationship. Ed Rodgers recalled the incident in the book, explaining that he had tried to stand up for himself and his wife, but insisted he hadn’t done anything to warrant the fallout between them, their son, and Munn.
“The only thing I said was, ‘You haven’t been on the scene very long. You’re just his girlfriend. We’re his parents,’” Ed is quoted as saying in Out of Darkness. This statement apparently deepened the rift, with Munn allegedly feeling slighted by the comment.
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The actress, now 44, dated Rodgers between 2014 and 2017, a period during which the quarterback’s relationship with his family reportedly became increasingly strained. Some speculate that Munn played a role in Aaron’s estrangement from his parents.
A family friend cited in the book suggests that Aaron sided with Munn during a disagreement over the phone or regarding the Christmas presents. “They were a couple, and he stood by her,” the friend said. “Aaron found a comrade [in Munn] who said, ‘I see it the same way you see it.’”
However, Munn has previously denied being the cause of the family discord. In a 2018 interview on Andy Cohen’s SiriusXM radio show, she claimed that Aaron had stopped speaking to his family eight months before they began dating. Ed Rodgers, however, disputes this narrative in O’Connor’s book, accusing Munn of fabricating stories to cast herself in a positive light.
“She just made stuff up to make herself look good,” Ed said. “We had a great relationship [before they started dating]. Nothing bad was going on.”
For his part, Aaron Rodgers has maintained that Munn was not responsible for the years of tension with his family. In Out of Darkness, he acknowledged the strained relationship but criticized his family for discussing their private matters with the media. “I have questions about why they feel the need to talk about it, because it’s like a game of poker,” Rodgers said. “When you are holding all the cards, you don’t have to bluff. There’s nothing they can say other than make up stories, but look at the facts.”
While the details of their family feud have been widely speculated, there may be signs of reconciliation on the horizon. Aaron and his father reportedly reconnected in 2023 after nearly a decade of estrangement, signaling a possible thaw in their relationship. Although the wounds have not yet fully healed, Aaron mentioned that reconciliation is “definitely possible.” His mother, Darla, expressed a desire to move forward, saying, “We would be so happy to move on,” while Ed added, “And we have unconditional love for him. No matter what happened, we would just like the relationship.”
As for Munn, she has since moved on from her relationship with Rodgers. She married comedian John Mulaney in July, and the couple shares a 2-year-old son named Malcolm.
Out of the Darkness: The Mystery of Aaron Rodgers is set to hit shelves on August 20, offering a closer look at the complex relationships and events that have shaped the life of one of the NFL’s most enigmatic stars.
