Jimmy Kimmel and Aaron Rodgers’ Feud Over Jeffrey Epstein’s Client List, Explained

Late night host Jimmy Kimmel and NFL superstar Aaron Rodgers are making headlines due to an unlikely feud that erupted after Rodgers implied Kimmel’s name would be included on a list of Jeffrey Epstein’s associates. But their beef began just over two years ago when Kimmel called the athlete a “Karen,” and only added fuel to the fire when he mocked Rodgers for making Epstein-related comments last March.

Rodgers appeared on The Pat McAfee Show on Tuesday, as he is wont to do, during which the discussion inexplicably turned to a forthcoming list naming 150 Epstein associates. “There’s a lot of people, including Jimmy Kimmel, are really hoping that doesn’t come out,” Rodgers posited. “I’ll tell you what, if that list comes out, I definitely will be popping some sort of bottle.”

Kimmel quickly fired back at Rodgers on X (formerly Twitter), mincing no words in his denunciation of Rodgers’ claim.

“Dear Aasshole: for the record, I’ve not met, flown with, visited, or had any contact whatsoever with Epstein, nor will you find my name on any ‘list’ other than the clearly-phony nonsense that soft-brained wackos like yourself can’t seem to distinguish from reality,” the comedian wrote. “Your reckless words put my family in danger. Keep it up and we will debate the facts further in court.”

Rodgers’ accusation seems to be in response to Kimmel mocking the injured Jets quarterback during a few of his late-night monologues. Back in 2021, Kimmel made Rodgers the subject of a scathing monologue after the then-Packers teammate tested positive for Covid-19. Kimmel chided Rodgers for pursuing an alternative treatment before taking aim at his long hair.

“We should have known because nothing says ‘I heal myself with crystals’ like this haircut. I mean, a little knot on top,” Kimmel joked. “Aaron is a Karen, that’s the fact of the matter.”

Just a few days later, Kimmel chastised Rodgers for admitting he took medical advice from Joe Rogan, before calling the athlete a “wack packer” in reference to Howard Stern’s notorious gang of dubiously informed superfans.

But the feud properly took shape early last year when Rodgers made outlandish implications about UFO activity being used as bait to distract from the upcoming release of an Epstein associates list.

“Obviously, there was some sort of Chinese spy balloon that was up in the air, allegedly, and there’s been a few other objects that have been shot down,” he claimed on The Pat McAfee Show. “I believe that this has been going on for a long time. Interesting timing on everything. There’s a lot of other things going on in the world.”

Kimmel didn’t waste time ridiculing Rodgers for his claims, once again taking the stage at Jimmy Kimmel Live! to deliver his rejoinder. “Needless to say, all this UFO talk has the tin-foil hatters going wild, including Green Bay wack Packer Aaron Rodgers,” Kimmel said. “It might be time to revisit that concussion protocol, Aaron.”

It seems that Rodgers’ took inspiration for his claims from his close friend and former teammate David Bakhtiari, who posted after Kimmel’s March ‘23 monologue: “Tell me you’re on the Jeffrey Epstein client list, without telling me you’re on the Jeffrey Epstein client list…"

Rodgers has yet to respond to Kimmel’s threats of legal action. But on Wednesday, McAfee commented on the feud, calling Rodgers' recent remark about Kimmel "a shit talk joke that can then become a very serious allegation." However, the host seemed to place blame at the feet of both men.

“I can understand why Jimmy got incredibly upset," McAfee admitted. "I definitely completely understand that, especially with his position, but also I think Aaron is like, ‘Hey, this guy has said some stuff about me in his monologue,’ and he’s just trying to shit talk. I don’t think he meant anything else, but gonna have to clarify that for us.”