Jimmy Kimmel has called on NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers to apologize for saying the comedian would appear in court documents linked to Jeffrey Epstein.
Speaking on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” On Monday, the late-night host said Rodgers may not have believed he was an associate of Epstein, but he was upset about being the target of Kimmel’s jokes.
The New York Jets quarterback made the claims on ESPN’s “The Pat McAfee Show” last week. “There are a lot of people, including Jimmy Kimmel, who are really hoping this doesn’t come out,” he said, referring to what was revealed at the time. Court documents included the names of more than 150 people named in legal proceedings related to Epstein, and Rodgers added that if “that list” came to light, he would “certainly open a bottle of some kind.”
“And then it was published, and of course my name wasn’t on it… I don’t know Jeffrey Epstein, I’ve never met Jeffrey Epstein, I’m not on the list, I never was.” “On a plane or an island or anything at all,” Kimmel said in his opening monologue.
He continued: “A lot of delusional people honestly believe that I meet Tom Hanks and Oprah at Shakey’s once a week to eat pizza and drink children’s blood.”
“Either he actually believes my name is going to be on Epstein’s list, which is crazy, or the more likely scenario is that he doesn’t actually believe it, he just said it because he’s mad at me for making fun of his super complex and his lies about vaccination,” Kimmel said.
Kimmel said that if Rodgers apologized, he would “accept his apology and move on.”
“When I make a mistake, which happens on rare occasions. You know what I do? I apologize for it, which is what Aaron Rodgers should do, which is what a decent person would do, but I bet he won’t.” ” He said.
Kimmel opened by saying that 2024 has already been a “crazy year, especially for me.” He continued to criticize Rodgers over his comments on Covid vaccines, when the NFL player said he had not been vaccinated and instead took the drug ivermectin, which is designed to treat parasites in livestock and has been widely debunked as a Covid treatment.
In 2023, Kimmel called Rodgers a “hitter” because he suggested — also on “The Pat McAffee Show” — that news reports of UFO sightings were somehow connected to the Epstein case, citing the “interesting timing.”
Kimmel responded to Rodgers last week, saying in an X post that his “reckless words” about the Epstein documents had put his family in danger.
“For the record, I have never met, traveled with, visited, or had any contact with Epstein, and you will not find my name on any ‘list’ other than the bogus bullshit that soft-minded fools like you can do.” “It appears indistinguishable from reality,” Kimmel wrote.
He added: “Continue and we will discuss the facts further in court.”
Attempts to reach Rodgers overnight were unsuccessful.
Epstein was arrested on sex trafficking charges in 2019 in connection with alleged incidents that occurred between 2002 and 2005. He committed suicide in a prison cell in August of that year, an incident that federal investigators said was the result of errors and negligence on the part of staff.
The first documents released last week included big names but few new details. Names, including some high-profile figures, have been mentioned publicly in court documents before – but the case continues to fuel conspiracy theories and wild speculation.
Another set of documents revealed last week showed how teenage girls were recruited to go to the disgraced financier’s home in Florida.