Aaron Rodgers is ‘not silenced’ for falsely linking Jimmy Kimmel to pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, says ex-ESPN host Jemele Hill: ‘It’s just that people think a lot of the things that come out of your mouth are stupid’

Aaron Rodgers is not being canceled for falsely linking Jimmy Kimmel to deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein. The way former ESPN anchor Jemele Hill sees it, he’s simply being held accountable.

“Sir, you have not been silenced,” Hill told CNN. “It’s just that people think a lot of the things that come out of your mouth are stupid.”

The controversy began last week, when the New York Jets quarterback recklessly suggested on the Pat McAfee Show that Kimmel “hopes that list doesn’t come to fruition.”

The list Rodgers was referring to is a 2015 civil defamation lawsuit filed against the late millionaire Jeffrey Epstein. The statement was publicly revealed for the first time this month and includes the names of many alleged Epstein clients, who are accused of having intercourse with underage girls. Kimmel was not named in the statement, he has maintained his innocence and there are no credible allegations against him.

But despite his clear suggestion to the contrary, Rodgers denied the link between Kimmel and Epstein, telling McAfee on Tuesday that he is being canceled by the mainstream media: “This is the media’s game plan, and this is what they do.” They’re trying to cancel, you know? And it’s not just me.’

Naturally, Rodgers accused the mainstream media of trying to cancel him during an interview that aired live on ESPN. In addition, Rodgers is paid $1 million annually for his weekly appearances on McAfee’s show, according to Andrew Marchand of the New York Post.

The irony of going on a national television show to complain about being silenced was not lost on Hill.

“Aaron Rodgers complaining about cancel culture and mainstream media when they are being platformed every week on a mainstream sports network is the most Aaron Rodgers thing ever,” Hill wrote on X.

As Hill was quick to point out, her own former ESPN show, SC6, was canceled by the network because it was overtly political.

“The Pat McAfee Show with Aaron Rodgers is what conservatives thought SC6 was,” Hill.

Hill joined The Atlantic’s staff in 2018 as a columnist.

She caused a national uproar by calling President Donald Trump a white supremacist in 2017. ESPN later suspended her for several weeks after she told NFL fans to boycott the Dallas Cowboys to protest owner Jerry Jones’ demand that his players stand for the national anthem.

Shortly thereafter, Hill and Michel Smith were removed from the 6 p.m. edition of SportsCenter known as SC6, which had become known more for its political and cultural discourse than its actual sports.

Rodgers has faced intense criticism since Tuesday’s interview with McAfee, especially for his continued attacks on what he called the “woke establishment.”

Kimmel responded to Rodgers’ latest attack Tuesday night, telling his ABC audience that Michigan defeated Washington in the national championship, adding, “34 to 13 was the score, if you believe the mainstream media . . .”

The quarterback responded to the uproar over his recent comments by telling McAfee on Tuesday, “I completely understand how serious an accusation of pedophilia would be… so if he would be upset about that, I understand.”

He continued, “I’m not stupid enough to accuse you of that without any evidence, concrete evidence… that’s ridiculous.”

But at no point did he apologize for his insinuation that Kimmel might be a pedophile.

The quarterback responded to the uproar over his recent comments by telling McAfee on Tuesday, “I completely understand how serious an accusation of pedophilia would be… so if he would be upset about that, I understand.”

He continued, “I’m not stupid enough to accuse you of that without any evidence, concrete evidence… that’s ridiculous.”