Andrew Marchand of the New York Post published a story Thursday revealing that ESPN personality Pat McAfee has paid Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers and Alabama coach Nick Saban to appear on The Pat McAfee Show.
The report was posted during Thursday’s episode of The Pat McAfee Show, and McAfee addressed the matter live on the air. Not only did McAfee confirm that he pays guests—including more than $1 million to Rodgers—but he also took issue with Marchand’s angle.
“Our company went from being valued from anywhere from $2 million to $5 million a few years back to like over $500 million. I’m not saying that just to flex,” McAfee began. “I’m saying that like, as a human that knows that all the people that have helped that happen have all been paid very handsomely. That is what business is in my eyes. … Andrew Marchand is a rat, OK? That is what he is. He tried to paint this in a way that makes me look like a bad person.”
You take care of your people.#PMSLive pic.twitter.com/mlw2vHaSVN
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) October 12, 2023
Although McAfee did not specify which elements of Marchand’s article were objectionable, it’s likely that he didn’t take kindly to the barbs thrown at his friend Rodgers, who has touted his controversial opinions about COVID-19 vaccines several times on the show.
It’s unclear why McAfee views Marchand as a rat, especially because McAfee himself texted the information to the Post reporter. Regardless, McAfee probably could’ve avoided the whole fuss by disclosing up front that some of the show’s guests receive payment for their appearances.
