Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Slams Aaron Rodgers For Lying About Vaccination Status
Aaron Rodgers has been fielding criticism over the past week for testing positive for COVID-19 after he told reporters during the summer that he had been vaccinated for the virus.
The positive test caused the Green Bay Packers quarterback to miss Sunday’s (November 7) game against the Kansas City Chiefs, which resulted in a loss for his team. During an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, Rodgers said he decided not to get the vaccine because he was allergic to some of the ingredients in the Moderna and Pfizer vaccine. Additionally, the possible side effects from the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, in his mind, outweighed the positive element of being vaccinated.
In a column for Substack, NBA icon Kareem Abdul-Jabbar ripped into Rodgers, writing that Rodgers, “directly and deliberately lied to fans and the public when he assured everyone he was ‘immunized,’ knowing that word would be interpreted as his being vaccinated.”
The NBA legend also took a dig at famous podcaster Joe Rogan, “Instead of consulting immunologists, he consulted anti-vaxxer and podcast host Joe Rogan, who also contracted the virus. If he ever requires open-heart surgery will he hand the scalpel to romance writers because they know about matters of the heart?”
Abdul-Jabbar also wrote how his life impacts endorsements for athletes, “Many athletes make a lot of money on product endorsements, which depends on the public’s favorable perception of athletes. In 2020, global sports sponsorship was worth about $57 billion. Yet, every time a pro athlete like Kyrie Irving (anti-vax), Henry Ruggs (speeding at 156 mph, crashing, and killing someone), Evander Kane (forging vaccination card), or Aaron Rodgers does or says something stupid, the public trust in athletes lowers and sponsors might consider avoiding players in favor of actors, pop stars, or social media influencers. Steph Curry and LeBron James don’t have to worry, but some up-and-comers might not get the same opportunities.”
Abdul-Jabbar closed with reminding us how Colin Kaepernick has been treated by the NFL, “I can’t help but think of Colin Kaepernick, who was blacklisted by the NFL for passively expressing his frustration with systemic racism—a brave act meant to help his community and save lives—while multi-millionaire Rodgers will continue to play, despite lying to the fans and his teammates and putting innocent lives in danger. Time will tell whether Rodgers will be judged by the content of his character or the strength of his throwing arm.”
Aaron Rodgers has not responded to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar but has complained he is being attacked by the “woke” mob.
