Aaron Rodgers is easily one of the most scrutinized players in the NFL. And with reason. He has said some wild things, hung out with some pretty controversial folks, and done a few things that have raised eyebrows.
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Rodgers has faced intense criticism for at least five years now, ever since his COVID-19 vaccination status stirred up major backlash. And it hasn’t let up since. Every major media outlet has him on its radar. However, the four-time MVP rarely reacts to those opinions that slander him in public.
Instead, he often plays around with the narrative, feeding the media little gems and nuggets, though sometimes unintentionally. So, what’s his secret to not letting all those voices affect him?
In his latest appearance on stage with his good pal Mike, an American platinum recording artist, a fan asked how he manages to handle all the negative sentiment that surrounds him. And Rodgers, who’s become something of an expert on the subject, had plenty of wisdom to share.
“I stole this from somebody, but somebody told me once, and it’s been a mantra for me now… But don’t worry about criticism from someone you’d never ask advice from,” Rodgers said nonchalantly. This quote, originally stated by Morgan Freeman, perfectly applies to Rodgers, given how his career and personal life have unfolded.
Rodgers took heavy criticism for his choice not to take the vaccine, and he was also scrutinized for his ayahuasca ventures. His political stance has stirred up attention, too. But he doesn’t let all of that get to him.
“Think about it. Don’t worry about criticism from someone you’d never ask advice from,” reiterated Rodgers. “So all the people that love to criticize me about my, you know, plant medicine endeavors or my vaccination status, that’s honestly how I feel.”
However, he is human too. And some opinions do take a mental toll on Rodgers, as being in control of every situation isn’t always possible. At that point, he relies on his inner circle for advice.
“It’s easier said than done, for sure, because we’re human. Somebody says sh*t about us you know starts a negative rumor about you. It hurts… you know it sucks,” said the Steelers QB.
“But deep down, those opinions do not matter unless it’s [coming from] somebody that you really care about. Which is why you need people in your inner circle like Mike is for me that can give you the real sh*t and tell you what’s really going on, but if it’s somebody outside of that, sh*t, f*ck it,” added Rodgers.
Amidst raging controversies around him, Rodgers has indeed kept his focus inward, not letting the outside noise get to him.
