Aaron Rodgers has ignited a firestorm of controversy—not for his NFL future, but for explosive claims made during a recent appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience. The four-time MVP quarterback, whose football career remains in limbo, ventured into dangerous territory by promoting debunked conspiracy theories about the AIDS pandemic, Dr. Anthony Fauci, and pharmaceutical corruption.
His comments, which allege government-engineered viruses and profit-driven medical malfeasance, have drawn sharp rebukes from scientists, journalists, and public health experts.
Aaron Rodgers’ Claims: A deep dive into controversy
During the nearly three-hour podcast episode, Rodgers made a series of unsubstantiated allegations about the origins of HIV and the motivations behind its treatment:
Government-Created Pandemic: Rodgers asserted that the U.S. government "deliberately created HIV" in the 1980s to profit from drug development, specifically citing AZT (zidovudine), the first FDA-approved HIV treatment.
"The blueprint, the game plan, was made in the '80s," he claimed. "Create a pandemic with a virus that's going wild. Fauci was given over $350 million to research this... and all they came up with was AZT."
Parallels to COVID-19: Aaron Rodgers linked his AIDS theories to modern vaccine skepticism, accusing Dr. Fauci of having a financial stake in Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine and labeling Pfizer "one of the most criminally corrupt organizations ever."
"Doing His Own Research": The quarterback defended his stance by emphasizing independent inquiry, despite lacking medical credentials: "I can read... I can learn and look things up just like any normal person. Question authority."
These claims align with long-debunked conspiracy theories, including the false notion that HIV was artificially synthesized and that AZT—a drug that revolutionized HIV care—was part of a profit scheme.
Backlash from experts and the public
Rodgers’ remarks have been met with swift condemnation:
Medical Community: Infectious disease specialists and historians have refuted his assertions, noting that HIV’s zoonotic origin (from primates to humans) is well-documented. AZT, while imperfect, extended countless lives and paved the way for modern antiretroviral therapies.
Fact-Checkers: Investigations into Fauci’s alleged Moderna ties found no evidence of personal financial gain.
Social Media: Critics accuse Aaron Rodgers of leveraging Rogan’s platform (which reaches 11M+ listeners per episode) to spread misinformation, particularly harmful to HIV-positive communities.
Pattern of controversy
This isn’t Rodgers’ first foray into conspiracy-driven rhetoric:
COVID-19 Vaccines: In 2021, he falsely claimed mRNA vaccines "alter DNA" and later defended his unvaccinated status by citing debunked studies.
Sandy Hook Trutherism: In 2013, Rodgers entertained baseless theories about the 2012 school shooting, though he later walked back the comments.
While the Jets (and potentially other teams) weigh his on-field value, the backlash may complicate Aaron Rodgers’ return. Sponsors and leagues increasingly distance themselves from polarizing figures—a reality Rodgers seems to disregard.