Jordan Rodgers spoke about his oft-discussed estrangement from Aaron Rodgers on Monday’s The Bachelorette, and wow was it awkward.
Rumors that Aaron Rodgers hates Jordan have run rampant ever since the latter assumed such a huge role on the ABC reality show.
Aaron, for the uniformed, is the star quarterback of the NFL’s Green Bay Packers. Jordan … did not achieve that level of football success.
He’s admitted that growing up in Aaron’s shadow hasn’t been easy, but there’s also going on there than a generic case of sibling rivalry.
Jordan and Aaron are estranged, which may have something (or a lot) to do with Brittany Farrar, BFF of Aaron’s girlfriend Olivia Munn.
The younger Rodgers dated Brittany before he went on the show – and doesn’t sound like he was the best boyfriend known to humanity.
Right after The Bachelorette premiere, Farrar put Jordan Rodgers on blast for being a cheating phony (and a benchwarmer to boot).
Clearly not something you do unless there’s bad blood.
Jordan made headlines last month when he hinted at a “complicated” relationship with Aaron, but he was marvelously cryptic even then.
Last night, he got deeper than ever with JoJo Fletcher.
The frontrunner all season long, Jordan was pushed to open up by JoJo as she narrowed the field before the coveted hometown dates.
Rodgers revealed that if JoJo went home with him, she’d meet parents, Darla and Ed; his oldest brother, Luke; and Luke’s dog, Carl.
“Yeah,” Jordan said, awkwardly dropping the other shoe.
“And, um, my middle brother won’t be there.”
“And that’s Aaron?” JoJo asked. “Okay. Why?”
“Yeah, Aaron,” Jordan said, nervously.
“Like I said, I have a great relationship with my brother Luke. Me and Aaron don’t really have that much of a relationship.”
And the explanation for that would be …
“It’s just kind of the way he’s chosen to do life,” Jordan added. “I chose to stay close with my family and my parents and my brother.”
“And, um, yeah, it’s just … it’s not ideal.”
“I love him, and … I can’t imagine what it’s like to be in his shoes and have the pressure he has and the demands from people that he has.”
“Don’t have hard feelings against him,” Jordan added, in a feigned attempt to portray this as normal. “It’s just how things go right now.”
“Does he know that you’re doing [this show]?” JoJo asked, after which Jordan admitted he doesn’t even know, since they don’t speak.
Wow.
One thing Jordan did make somewhat clear is that he is not entitled – a label his Bachelorette cohorts have tried to pin on him all season.
His motives have been called into question, with the other guys (unfairly, he says) accusing him of being arrogant because of his pedigree.
“When I walked away from playing … I could’ve kept playing, but football didn’t define me,” Jordan said, referencing his brief NFL career.
“And not having a great relationship with my brother Aaron, or what people think that relationship should be, didn’t define me,” he said.
“I’m defined by the character I have,” he said, whatever that might be, “and I just wanted you to know where I’m coming from with that.”
Needless to say, he got a rose … but the drama is far from over, especially since JoJo is headed to meet his family (sans Aaron) next.
That should make things even more awkward.
“Jordan doesn’t have a relationship with his brother Aaron, but I didn’t realize this wound is as deep as it is,” she says in the preview.
“So now I’m nervous.”
Word of advice, JJ:
Run.
