Tea Time with Tagwa: Aaron Rodgers needs to own up to his shortcomings

Tagwa Shammet, Opinions Editor

Tea timers, as we near the end of yet another coronavirus-infected year, we carry along the controversy of vaccination. Many of us are lining up to receive our booster vaccine shots, while there are others among the population who remain unvaccinated. 

The vaccine controversy has plagued a variety of conversations. From the dining room to the television, the classroom to the radio; we have all had a disagreement regarding our views of the COVID-19 vaccines.

Yet, while the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continue to urge the safety or validity of the vaccine, many folks just don’t buy it. And, when some of those folks turn out to be celebrities and politicians, we see their opinion impact parts of the population.

Take Aaron Rodgers. He is this charming and talented football quarterback that everybody knows. Carrying the Green Bay Packers to victory a multitude of times, Rodgers is one of the most well-known quarterbacks currently in the league. 

Earlier this month, we also found out he’s a liar.

On Nov. 3, Rodgers tested positive for COVID-19. This result came as a shock to many, seeing how Rodgers had claimed the previous summer that he was immunized. Understanding that breakthrough cases exist, the awe resided in the fact that Rodgers was never actually injected with any version of the COVID-19 vaccine. 

In an interview on “The Pat McAfee Show,” Rodgers claimed that when he said he had been immunized, he meant he had taken a homeopathic “immunization protocol” that was recommended to him by medical staff. 

Deceitful. Rodgers is fully aware of the connotation in which the NFL and his fans expected him to speak when he said he had been immunized. As an individual in the spotlight, your word holds more value and pull than the average person. This isn’t because you’re better than the next person by any means; instead, it is because of the platform you have been provided.

Rodgers demolished the serenity and sanctity of his platform. Rodgers’ initial deceit regarding the vaccine was enough to cause disappointment, however, he proceeded to ripple through his character in the upcoming days after his positive result. 

Rodgers proceeded to discuss his belief in the body’s autonomy and his unwavering stance that health is not a “one-size-fits-all” endeavor. Rodgers also noted that after speaking with Joe Rogan — a well-known radio personality — he began indulging in unproven home remedies such as taking ivermectin.

Ivermectin is a drug that is provided to animals in an effort to fight off parasites. The CDC has warned against using this drug because it is poisonous to humans.  

This is the disconnect in our nation. We sit and whine about the supposed lack of science behind the actual vaccine, yet inject ourselves with unproven poison in an effort to avoid doing what is right. The autonomy of our bodies must coexist with the necessity to protect our population.

Rodgers also expressed his distaste for the NFL’s excessive COVID-19 testing and regulations. At this moment, the NFL requires unvaccinated players to get tested every day, while vaccinated players are required to test once a week — more than that at their own discretion.

“I realize I’m in the crosshairs of the woke mob right now, so before my final nail gets put in my cancel culture casket, I think I’d like to set the record straight on so many of the blatant lies,” said Rodgers in his interview.

There is a direct correlation between how celebrities act and their fear of cancel culture. If Rodgers were to be canceled, it wouldn’t be because he isn’t vaccinated. Sure, that would garner a lot of distaste from his fans; nevertheless, there are plenty of celebrities and athletes who remain unvaccinated. However, Rodgers lied. He tried to get away with fooling the NFL, his team and his fans. If anyone is canceling him, it’ll be for that.

We must also address this negative stigma that the liberal or conservative agenda is somehow linked to vaccines. There is no mob coming for Rodgers, he got himself into this predicament. No mob is banning him from team activities for 10 days — that’s the NFL. No mob is giving him COVID-19 — he did that himself.

Refusing the vaccine is a choice that reaps its own consequences. However, lying about your status is an unprecedented danger that could harm a multitude of people. Rodgers is not a messiah fighting against the angry, liberal mob; he is a physically talented individual who used deceit to further his own beliefs and narratives. And that’s the tea.