“You’re not seeing trans men dominating anything. It’s because there’s a biological difference,” Rodgers stated on “The Joe Rogan Experience” podcast.
Aaron Rodgers, longtime NFL star and new quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers, is drawing public criticism again, this time for his tight-lipped stance on his new marriage.
Though Rodgers revealed earlier this year that he had recently gotten married in private to his new wife, Brittani, and now sports a wedding ring, he has yet to be seen publicly with the bride. Despite the Rodgers’ intentions of keeping their new family out of the public eye, many media outlets have taken the preference as a challenge, reporting frequently on Brittani’s absences.
Rodgers pushed back against the media’s intrusions into his wife’s life in a late June segment of “The Pat McAfee Show,” slamming the culture’s “entitlement to information” and confirming that his “private life is staying private.”
“It’s a sick society, isn’t it? I’ve lived in the public eye for 20 years. I had a public relationship. How did that work out?” Rodgers quipped.
“I didn’t like any of that, and now I’m with somebody who’s private, who doesn’t want to be in the public eye,” he continued, adding that his wife “didn’t sign up to be a celebrity, doesn’t want to be a part of it.”
According to Rodgers, his attempts to maintain privacy and avoid the spotlight in recent years have earned him the label of “weird.” The 41-year-old athlete, however, is no stranger to offending society with his straightforward takes and inclinations towards supporting standard family values.
In May, Rodgers appeared on a podcast episode of “The Joe Rogan Experience” in an interview that made waves on social media. During the conversation, he vehemently rejected the concept of allowing men who identify as transgender to compete against female athletes.
“The trans woman movement is actually anti-woman,” Rodgers told the podcast host, adding, “That’s what I mean—sports. You’re not seeing trans men dominating anything. It’s because there’s a biological difference.”
The duo went on to discuss the dubious ethical implications of transgender medical procedures and the social pressures that influence them, with Rodgers noting, “You know, kids don’t want to be an outsider. It’s kind of en vogue to be nonbinary or whatever.”
🚩 Joe Rogan & Aaron Rodgers on the Big Business Behind 'Gender Affirming Care'
"It's a business. My friend who's a doctor told me that his friend, who is a plastic surgeon who moved into gender transition care,…gets $70,000 every time he does this. And he goes, 'This guy is… pic.twitter.com/lhrHggzZVh
— Chief Nerd (@TheChiefNerd) February 7, 2024
Rodgers’ remarks on the transgender issue have placed him squarely in the national debate over gender identity and athletic fairness–and, by extension, the quarterback is bringing the Pittsburgh Steelers along for the ride. Rodgers has already demonstrated his willingness to go head-to-head with left-leaning athletes in the league over political hot topics, including challenging Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce to a debate over the Covid-19 vaccine.
As Rodgers prepares for what he has indicated will be his final NFL season, he continues to balance his professional commitments with a desire for personal privacy and prioritizing his family. He has planned private workouts with his new Steelers teammates at his Malibu home to build team chemistry ahead of the upcoming season.
