Jimmy Kimmel wants Aaron Rodgers to apologize for insinuating that the late-night talk show host was “nervous” for the “Epstein List” to come out.
“He said I was hoping it wouldn’t [come out] and that he was going to pop a bottle of something to celebrate when he did,” Kimmel, 56, said on Monday’s episode of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
“And then it did come out, and of course, my name wasn’t on it and isn’t on it, and won’t ever be on.”
Kimmel clarified that he didn’t know late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, claiming they never even met.
“I’m not on the list. I was not on a plane or an island or anything ever,” he stated.
“I suggested that if Aaron wanted to make false and very damaging statements like that, we should do it in court so that he can share his proof with a judge.”
Kimmel said Rodgers, 40, may have gone after him for criticizing the Jets star in the past. And while Kimmel believes that athletes have every right to discuss current events, he said there’s a difference between “trash talk” and spreading disinformation.
“As far as the ‘Well, you say things about people all the time’ argument goes, yes, I do. It’s not the same. It’s not even close to the same,” Kimmel argued.
“We say a lot of things on this show. We don’t make up lies. In fact, we have a team of people who work very hard to sift through facts and reputable sources before I make a joke, and that’s an important distinction – a joke about someone.”
Kimmel added that he knows to apologize when he wronged someone and that the New York Jets player should do the same.
“Which is what Aaron Rodgers should do. Which is what a decent person would do, but I bet he won’t,” Kimmel said. “If he does, you know what I’ll do? I’ll accept his apology and move on, but he probably won’t do that. My guess is that he won’t apologize. I hope I’m wrong.”
Kimmel tweeted the long-winded monologue calling out Rodgers along with the caption, “Jimmy’s thoughts on quarterback Karen Rodgers…”
The quarterback stirred the pot when he appeared on Pat McFee’s ESPN show and said, “There’s a lot of people, including Jimmy Kimmel, really hoping that [Epstein list] doesn’t come out.”
Kimmel immediately took to Twitter to shut down the accusation that he was at all connected to Epstein, who died by suicide in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on charges of sex-trafficking minors.
“Dear Aasshole [sic]: for the record, I’ve not met, flown with, visited, or had any contact whatsoever with Epstein, nor will you find my name on any ‘list’ other than the clearly-phony nonsense that soft-brained wackos like yourself can’t seem to distinguish from reality,” he tweeted. “Your reckless words put my family in danger. Keep it up and we will debate the facts further in court.”
The list contained the identities of victims, friends and associates of Epstein and his accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell, who were originally kept anonymous but were not incriminated.
Several high-profile people were named including Bill and Hillary Clinton, Prince Andrew, Donald Trump, and Al Gore. Kimmel’s name, however, was not on the list.
Rodgers has yet to say sorry for the false allegation against Kimmel but told reporters at a press conference on Monday that he would address the situation on McAfee’s show on Tuesday.
