GREEN BAY (NBC 26) — Following comments from Aaron Rodgers on his COVID-19 status, insurance company State Farm is issuing a public statement.
The star quarterback for the Green Bay Packers has been featured in State Farm's TV commercials for years.
In a statement to NBC 26, State Farm said:
Aaron Rodgers has been a great ambassador for our company for much of the past decade. We don’t support some of the statements that he has made, but we respect his right to have his own personal point of view. We recognize our customers, employees, agents and brand ambassadors come from all walks of life, with differing viewpoints on many issues. Our mission at State Farm is to support safer, stronger communities. To that end, we encourage vaccinations, but respect everyone’s right to make a choice based on their personal circumstances.
On Friday, Rodgers appeared on the Pat McAfee show after news broke that Rodgers had tested positive for COVID-19. Previous interviews of Rodgers had surfaced saying he was "immunized" but not necessarily vaccinated.
On the Pat McAfee Show, Aaron Rodgers explained his decision not to get vaccinated and added that he's taking the unapproved drug Ivermectin for treatment. He also made the claim that NFL's COVID-19 rules are not based on science, which directly contradicts claims made by the NFLPA.
Rodgers' comments drew criticism, including from Milwaukee Bucks all-time great, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who said in a blog post that Rodgers "damaged professional sports."
Over the weekend, Prevea Health ended its relationship with Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers has been a partner of Prevea Health, serving as a spokesperson since 2012.
