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State Farm boycotted after backing unvaxxed Packers QB Aaron Rodgers

Rodgers was forced to miss the game on November 7 against the Kansas City Chiefs after he tested positive for Covid-19 and it was revealed that he is unvaccinated

An increasing number of Twitter users are calling for the boycott of the State Farm insurance company after the firm announced that it would be standing behind Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers after it was revealed that he was unvaccinated, despite NFL's strict inoculation mandate. 

Rodgers was forced to miss Sunday's game on November 7 against the Kansas City Chiefs after he tested positive for Covid-19 earlier in November when it was also revealed that he is unvaccinated. The athlete spoke publicly about not wanting to receive the Modern or Pfizer versions of the vaccine because he is allergic to one of the ingredients in both of them. Despite State Farm not supporting "some of the statements that he has made" about the Covid-19 vaccine, the company announced on Monday, November 8, that it would be standing behind Rodgers, who is one of State Farm's spokespersons.

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"Aaron Rodgers has been a great ambassador for our company for much of the past decade," a State Farm spokesperson told USA Today. "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."

Although the company is not terminating its contract with Rodgers, the firm has cut back on the number of advertisements that feature the Packers signal-caller. Out of a possible 394 ads that featured Rodgers, just six of them, which makes up just 1.5 percent of all of the ads, were run on Sunday. This is startling because Rodgers appeared in an estimated 25 percent of State Farm ads in the prior Sundays, according to data from Apex Marketing.

'State Farm commercials have to be thrown in the trash'

Reaction to State Farm's support of Rodgers was a strong one. "I am calling for a nationwide boycott of @StateFarm for defending @AaronRodgers12 & saying that they respect personal choice as to the Covid vaccine though we all share the same air w/ the unvaccinated who spread this highly communicable disease includ to the immuno-compromised," one of them wrote, while another noted, "State Farm’s new Aaron Rodgers ad is awesome Welcome Karen Rodgers." A third added, "New State Farm commercial: OPEN: Rodgers gets into a small fender bender. Woman: Wow glad no one was hurt. We should probably exchange insurance info. Rodgers: Yeah I’m covered. Woman: Like, insured? Rodgers: Woman: Rodgers: What are you the Woke Mob?! *speeds off*" The next remarked, "Waiting for @StateFarm to announce they’ve hired @Kaepernick7 to replace @AaronRodgers12."

One more quipped, "The Green Bay Packers have to move on from Aaron Rodgers. And the State Farm commercials have to be thrown in the trash." Another wrote, "JAKE FROM STATE FARM: We're still good, right? AARON RODGERS: I've been doing my own research and you don't actually need insurance if just put a life jacket in your glove compartment. It's a scam." A commenter tweeted, "So @StateFarmcan choose to continue to do business with @AaronRodgers12 and you can choose to do business with another insurance company. One that cares about public health, ethics and integrity. YOUR CHOICE." One more commented, "Like A Good Neighbor, State Farm Is There…REALLY @StateFarm, I’ve been a homeowners insurance customer for over 20 years, so answer me this… Why is Aaron Rodgers still representing your company after lying & putting others at risk? He’s the opposite of a 'good neighbor.'" A person reacted with, "Dear @StateFarm Aaron Rodgers lied…..I’m not sure how anyone can trust an insurance company with a liar as a front person."