Aaron Rodgers addresses his long-standing estrangement from his family, which includes his parents, Ed and Darla Rodgers, and his brothers, Luke and Jordan.
The family rift became public knowledge in 2016 when Jordan mentioned on “The Bachelorette” that Aaron was no longer in contact with them. The rift reportedly began in 2014, with various factors contributing to the strain. Some rumors suggested that Aaron’s former girlfriend, Olivia Munnplayed a role in the conflict, but Aaron has denied this, clarifying that the problems within his family were “deep-rooted” and not related to her.
Now, these estranged relationships are addressed in the upcoming Netflix documentary “Aaron Rodgers: Enigma.”
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Aaron Rodgers admits he has lost friendships and family
Aaron Rodgers admits how his controversial views have strained his relationshipsleading to loss of family ties and friendships. A lot of the tension seems to come from differences in beliefs, especially when it comes to religion. His openness in questioning organized religion has reportedly been a tough subject for his parents, who are devout Christians.
In the trailer for “Aaron Rodgers: Enigma,” released Tuesday, Dec. 3, Rodgers is heard saying, “Losing friendships, family. It was heartbreaking.”
“Rodgers has shared controversial and crazy conspiracy theories,” another voice is heard saying in the background.
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The rift between Aaron Rodgers and his family became public in 2016
The rift within Aaron Rodgers’ family became public in 2016 when his younger brother, Jordan Rodgersappeared on JoJo Fletcher’s season of “The Bachelorette.” During the show, Jordan – who later married Fletcher in 2022 – revealed that Aaron had become estranged from their family, putting the feud in the spotlight.
“It’s just the way he’s chosen to do life,” Jordan explained on the show. “I chose to be close to my family and my parents and my brother (Luke).”
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Family tensions became even more apparent during JoJo Fletcher’s visit to Chico, California, for Jordan’s hometown date. Fletcher met Jordan’s parents, Ed and Darla, along with his brother Luke and Luke’s girlfriend. But Aaron and his then-girlfriend, Olivia Munn, were notably absent, with two empty chairs at the dinner table as reminders of their missing presence.
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During the visit, Luke opened up further and provided additional context about the family’s strained relationship with Aaron. “It’s something we don’t really like to talk about a lot,” he told Fletcher on the show. “It hurts both of us not to have that relationship (with Aaron) — we miss our brother. I’m trusting God to bring things full circle and it would all just come back to us being a family.”
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Aaron Rodgers has previously declined to comment on his estranged relationship with his family
Although Jordan and Luke spoke openly about their relationship with Aaron on camera, the NFL quarterback chose not to share his perspective when asked by the press. In July 2016, Aaron told ABC’s “WISN 12 News” that he preferred not to comment on the situation involving his brothers and parents, choosing to keep the matter private.
“When it comes to that kind of thing, I’ve always felt it’s a little inappropriate to talk about certain family matters in public,” Aaron said. “So I’m just — I’m not going to talk about these things.”
Aaron Rodgers has been open about his religious beliefs
Growing up in a deeply Christian household, Aaron Rodgers began to question his faith as he got older. During a 2020 appearance on the “Pretty Intense” podcast, he shared his skepticism about organized religion, saying, “I don’t know how you can believe in a God who wants to condemn most of the planet to a burning hell.” He went on to describe religion as something that “can be a crutch” and criticized its exclusivity.
His comments reportedly caused division within his family, who were said to be “distressed” by his remarks.
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Aaron Rodgers creates controversy
Plus, in early 2024, Aaron Rodgers joined the “Look Into It” podcast, where he delved into controversial topics, including theories about the origins of AIDS and COVID-19, suggesting they were created by the government for pharmaceutical profit.
Rodgers’ statements have attracted much attention and criticism. His past comments on religion have reportedly created tension within his family, and his support of conspiracy theories has drawn significant public scrutiny. Despite the backlash, Rodgers remains vocal about his faith, championing personal exploration and challenging mainstream narratives.
“Aaron Rodgers: Enigma” will be released on Netflix on December 17.
