Aaron Rodgers denies gay Internet rumors

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers today denied recent Internet rumors that he’s gay.

Addressing the rumors on his weekly radio show on 540 ESPN Milwaukee, Rodgers said, “I’m just going to say I’m not gay. I really, really like women. That’s all I can really say about that.”

“There’s always going to be silly stuff out there in the media which you can’t worry too much about, and I don’t,” Rodgers continued. “So, just, keep on trucking. I think professional should be professional, and personal is personal.”

The rumors about Rodgers’ sexual orientation apparently erupted after his former roommate and personal assistant Kevin Lanflisi began tweeting obscure messages that seemed like things a former lover would say about a failed relationship.

“I wish you would learn to love people and use things.. Not the other way around,” Lanflisi tweeted on Nov. 26.

On Dec. 3, he tweeted: “All that time spent on ‘us’ is now spent on ‘me.’ Which means I have more time to exercise, read, write, dream and save..”

“My roommate. Nine days later, my sister. Everyone needs to calm the hell down,” Lanflisi tweeted on Dec. 20.

The recent tweets contrast with Lanflisi’s comments about Rodgers a couple of years ago. In a tweet from September 2011, Lanflisi referred to Rodgers as a mentor. “Blessed to be where I’m at. I love being able to learn, laugh, and be mentored by such an amazing man @AaronRodgers12,” he wrote.

Rodgers also has made public references about his roommate on a few occasions. In a 2008 interview with The Sporting News, he said, “I’ve got a roommate, a guy I met in town. He works for the Packers now as an athletic trainer, but he was interning when I met him and we just hit it off. He’s been great for me as far as great conversations outside of football. Our friendship goes a lot deeper than what we do.”

The Fame Driven, a gossip website, has helped to fuel the gay rumors about Rodgers.

“Aaron has attended numerous sports award shows with Kevin, always color-coordinated and without any double female dates, including the ESPYs,” the website posted Dec. 30.

“Kevin was also the first person Aaron embraced when the Packers won the Super Bowl in 2011,” The Fame Driven quoted an unnamed source as having said. “There has been speculation for years here in Wisconsin that Aaron is gay, which I always brushed off,” the source allegedly continued. “But after looking at Kevin’s twitter I’m inclined to believe Aaron and Kevin were more than just roommates/friends, I believe they were lovers.”

WiG could not find evidence of rumors about Rodgers circulating in Wisconsin. In fact, Rodgers was rumored to be engaged to his high school sweetheart Destiny Newton.

In September, The Fame Driven posted a story claiming that former NHL star Sean Avery was in a relationship with Bravo executive Andy Cohen. Both men dismissed the story.

Avery subsequently became engaged to longtime girlfriend Hilary Rhoda, a Victoria’s Secret model.

Rodgers led the Pack into the NFC playoffs last Sunday with a last-minute touchdown pass that beat the Chicago Bears and secured the NFC North title. The Packers will host to the 49ers on Sunday at Lambeau Field.