Aaron Rodgers offered sympathetic comments about the Sandy Hook shooting more than a decade ago, a stark contrast to his reported hoax beliefs of the 2012 massacre in Connecticut.
“I hope that we can learn from this, and look for the signs more and not ever have something like this happen and keep this on our minds. Because these are things that affect all of us directly or indirectly,” Rodgers said on 540 ESPN Milwaukee, as heard in a video posted in 2013 on the Fox 6 Milwaukee’s YouTube channel. “This needs to be something that we learn from.”
Rodgers referenced those comments Thursday in his first public statement since CNN reported that Rodgers has said in private conversations that the 2012 shooting was not real.
“As I’m on the record saying in the past, what happened in Sandy Hook was an absolute tragedy. I am not and have never been of the opinion that the events did not take place,” Rodgers posted on X.
“Again, I hope that we learn from this and other tragedies to identify the signs that will allow us to prevent unnecessary loss of life. My thoughts and prayers continue to remain with the families affected along with the entire Sandy Hook community.❤️.”
Rodgers’ beliefs on the Sandy Hook shooting became a national storyline after CNN reported the former Packers and current Jets quarterback shared hoax theories with at least two people, including Pamela Brown, one of the two authors of CNN’s article.
The outlet said that Rodgers told Brown in 2013 that the fatal shootings were “actually a government inside job and the media was intentionally ignoring it.”
Upon being pressed to provide evidence, Rodgers, then with Green Bay, allegedly shared theories that CNN reports have since been disproved.
The second source said Rodgers claimed: “Sandy Hook never happened…All those children never existed. They were all actors.”
Rodgers reportedly said of the parents: “They’re all making it up. They’re all actors.”
Those views offer a much different opinion than the one Rodgers shared in the ESPN interview more than 10 years ago, as uncovered by reporter Jamie Stuart.
Rodgers has been in the news quite a bit this week and it has nothing to do with potential additions for the Jets’ offense during free agency.
The 40-year-old is also being considered as Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s potential running mate, although some have slammed his potential government aspirations as an attention ploy.