“Saturday Night Live” parodied Aaron Rodgers’s position on vaccines during the sketch comedy show’s latest episode, shining a light on the controversy surrounding the Green Bay Packers quarterback.
Rodgers tested positive for COVID-19 last week, which stirred questions regarding his vaccination status. In August, the quarterback said he was “immunized,” but he has now revealed that he has not been vaccinated against COVID-19.
Rodgers commented on his decision not to get vaccinated during an interview on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Friday. He said that he did not lie over the summer, and contended that he is “not some sort of anti-vax, flat earther,” but instead “somebody who’s a critical thinker.”
He also said he has spoken with podcast host and vaccine-skeptic Joe Rogan about treatment options, and has been taking controversial medication such as ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine.
“SNL” spoofed the NFL star’s position on vaccines during a mock interview on “Justice with Judge Judge Jeanine” between Rodgers, portrayed by cast member Pete Davidson, and Fox News’s Jeanine Pirro, played by cast member Cecily Strong.
Judge Jeanine’s first guest is NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers. pic.twitter.com/WQB8P9uDMg
— Saturday Night Live – SNL (@nbcsnl) November 7, 2021
Strong’s Pirro introduced Davidson’s Rodgers as “an American brave enough to stand up and say ‘screw you science, I know Joe Rogan.’”
Davidson’s Rodgers said it was great to be on the program, adding, “Remember when I hosted ‘Jeopardy’?” referring to the NFL star’s successful run as the guest host of the popular trivia show.
Strong’s Pirro began the interview discussing Rodgers’s decision not to get vaccinated.
“Now Aaron, you’re not vaccinated. So what? Who the hell cares? It’s your body, your choice. And please never use that quote for any other issue,” she said, referring to the popular slogan used by abortion advocates.
Davidson’s Rodgers said it’s “my body and my COVID,” adding that the “woke mob” is coming after him. He said matters have gotten so bad that State Farm is no longer offering him the “Rodgers Rate,” referring to his commercials with the insurance company.
Asked if he ever lied about getting vaccinated, Davidson’s Rodgers said he did not, adding, “I took all my teammates into a huddle, got all their faces three inches away from my wet mouth, and told them ‘trust me, I’m more or less immunized. Go team.’”
He also told Strong’s Pirro that his record is seven and one, meaning “of the eight people I infected, seven are fine.”
“Call this guy ‘the bottom of the Snapple cap’ because he got facts,” Strong’s Pirro said while ending the interview.
Rodgers is already seeing fallout in the wake of his positive COVID-19 test. Last week, Prevea Health said its partnership with Rodgers would be terminated on Saturday. The NFL star has been a spokesperson for the Wisconsin-based health group since 2012.