ABCOh, brother.
In last week's episode of The Bachelorette, Jordan Rodgers revealed to JoJo Fletcher he has been estranged from his older brother, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, for the last two years, something fans had been curious about ever since it was announced the former NFL player was going to be on the ABC reality show. And during Monday night's episode, the Rodgers brother drama was once again front and center as JoJo visited Jordan's hometown.
When visiting Jordan's high school in Chico, Calif., JoJo points out a photo of Aaron on the wall, you could see how uncomfortable the frontrunner was. "You could tell Jordan just didn't really want to talk about it and that it hurts him to bring it up," JoJo said, before asking Jordan if she should not discuss Aaron's estrangement from the family in front of his parents and brother, Luke Rodgers.
"It doesn't need to be a topic," Jordan said. "I'll just tell them we talked about it, and yeah." Of course, it became THE topic, with JoJo even acknowledging two empty chairs at the Rodgers' family table, saying she knew the family probably wished Aaron was in one of them. (There was no mention of Aaron's longtime girlfriend, Olivia Munn.)
"It's something we don't really like to talk about a lot. It pains both of us not to have that relationship," Luke told JoJo during a sitdown. "We miss our brother. We just are trusting that God brings things full circle. And just wish that everything would just get back to us being a family." Then he says he's impressed Jordan shared those things."
And while some of the other men and viewers have questioned Jordan's reasoning for joining the show, with James Taylor accusing the former football player of acting entitled, Luke, as well as their father Ed Rodgers, defended his integrity. Describing The Bachelorette process as a "weird environment," the father acknowledged the family, especially Aaron, is in the media a lot. "Fame can change you, but one thing I know about Jordan, he's so strong-willed and that's not going to change him in anyway"
As for JoJo, she's confident in Jordan's intentions, saying, "I know who Jordan is. And I know who he is to me. He is nobody's brother. He is a man that I am falling in love with and I am crazy about."
At the end of his hometown visit Jordan admitted it would've been "nice" to introduce JoJo to Aaron. "I miss my brother a lot, especially in moments like this because my family means so much," he said. After meeting the family, JoJo said, "I have no idea nor could I even imagine why Aaron wouldn't want to be part of their lives."
Aaron has yet to publicly weigh in on his relationship with Jordan or what's been said about him on The Bachelorette.
The Bachelorette airs Mondays at 8 p.m. on ABC.