ESPN exec backs Pat McAfee despite Aaron Rodgers’s ‘deeply dumb’ comment
Star quarterback Aaron Rodgers was scheduled to return to “The Pat McAfee Show” the following week. As of early Friday afternoon, an ESPN executive publicly endorsed the show’s bombastic and frequently controversial afternoon TV host. Rodgers had appeared on the show this week, suggesting connections between serial abuser Jeffrey Epstein and Jimmy Kimmel.
In his most recent appearance on the Pat McAfee show, Aaron Rodgers hinted that Jimmy Kimmel, host of Light Night Television, might be feeling ‘uneasy’ regarding the disclosure of the Epstein documents. Nick Wright responds to these remarks by explaining why the New York Jets quarterback’s conspiracy-theorist side has veered over the edge and into dangerous territory.
“Comments” Aaron Rodgers
In an interview with The Washington Post, Mike Foss, senior VP of studio and digital production at ESPN, said, “Aaron made a deeply dumb and factually inaccurate joke about Jimmy Kimmel.” “We are all in agreement that it shouldn’t have happened.”
Foss’s interview with The Post came soon after McAfee returned to his daily program and immediately caused more chaos by aiming at one of his bosses’ lives.
“Someone is deliberately attempting to undermine us from within ESPN,” McAfee mentioned a high-ranking executive. “More precisely, I think the person trying to undermine our program is Norby Williamson.”
McAfee’s apparent outrage stemmed from a Thursday New York Post article that mentioned his show’s declining linear TV ratings since it debuted on ESPN this fall. Williamson has been an executive at the network since the 1980s. He is well-known for his tenure there as well as his prior willingness to disagree with certain vocal talents, such as Stuart Scott and Jemele Hill.
Speaking on Friday afternoon, Foss emphasized ESPN’s faith in McAfee’s ability to manage the fallout while outlining how the two companies intended to move past the Kimmel incident.
According to Foss, “Pat has built a multibillion-dollar company; I don’t think he needs my advice on anything.” “There is no doubt that we have discussed the shows this week and the ones that follow. In the end, Pat makes his own decisions, and I have faith in him to keep doing the right things.
In response to McAfee’s Williamson segment, Foss chose not to comment.
Williamson is currently McAfee’s second teammate to blow up on his show this week. Kimmel works for ABC, which is owned by Disney just like ESPN. Multiple people with knowledge of Disney’s handling of the Kimmel situation claim that ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro contacted Kimmel this week to try to patch things up. (An individual stated that Disney CEO Bob Iger did not facilitate any conversations.)
Emails requesting comment from Kimmel and Rodgers’ representatives were not answered. In response to a text message requesting comment, Williamson did not reply.
Aaron Rodgers
Born on December 2, 1983, Aaron Charles Rodgers plays quarterback for the National Football League (NFL) New York Jets. Before the Green Bay Packers selected him in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft, he played college football for the California Golden Bears, where he set several career passing records, including the lowest single-season and career interception rates. He is thought to be one of the most gifted and exceptional quarterbacks in history.
Pat McAfee
Born on May 2, 1987, Patrick Justin McAfee (/ˈmaekəfiː/ MA-kə-fee) is an American sports analyst, color commentator, professional wrestler, and former football punter who specializes in kickoffs. McAfee is a television analyst for college football for ESPN’s College GameDay. Also, he is the live YouTube host of The Pat McAfee Show. Additionally, the program has an ESPN platform license.
He played placekicker for the Mountaineers of West Virginia. The Indianapolis Colts selected him in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL Draft. During his rookie season, he participated in Super Bowl XLIV, where the Colts faced defeat against the New Orleans Saints. McAfee played in the National Football League (NFL) for eight years, during which he was an All-Pro in 2014 and made two Pro Bowls.