Former superstar racecar driver Danica Patrick is speaking out about her “emotionally abusive” relationship with legendary NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Patrick stated that her 2020 breakup with Rodgers was the most painful experience of her life because the relationship had left her emotionally hollow.
Danica Patrick Sheds Light on Relationship With Aaron Rodgers
During an appearance on “The Sage Steele Show,” Patrick was asked to share the most pain that she’d ever felt. The former driver didn’t have to think for long, pointing to her breakup with four-time NFL MVP Rodgers.
Patrick claimed that the relationship left her with a lot of emotional baggage, labeling her time with Rodgers as “emotionally abusive.”
“The breakup with Aaron in 2020 [was my most painful experience] because it was sudden,” Patrick said. “It felt like it was my life. So when you live with somebody, it’s your whole life… And because the nature of the relationship was emotionally abusive, so that wore me down to nothing.”
Patrick appeared to be masking some emotions, attempting to portray some amusement as she spoke.
“Someone that you know, people could never imagine that I would lack any confidence, or belief in the simple things about who I am. Everything was torn to bits. He leaves a trail of blood. I don’t think I’m saying too much earth-shattering stuff after we — there’s been enough out there,” she added. “But it gave me the greatest gift, which is myself. It gave me the greatest gift of how much I needed to show up for myself and take care of myself.”
Patrick’s relationship with Rodgers was very public, with the pair openly affectionate with each other for two years that they were dating. Rodgers’ following relationship was also out in the open, with the quarterback getting engaged to actress Shailene Woodley. That engagement didn’t last, though, with the pair breaking up in 2022. Like Patrick, Woodley has hinted that her relationship with Rodgers was “toxic.”
“I haven’t shared much about my relationship with Aaron because it always makes me cry,” Woodley once said, while tearing up. “It was not right. But it was beautiful.”
Rodgers noted in his documentary, “Aaron Rodgers: Enigma,” that he made mistakes in previous relationships, suggesting that dating famous women was a mistake.
Patrick Describes ‘Greatest Gift’ That Rodgers Breakup Gave Her
While Patrick clearly carries some deep sadness from that time in her life, she claims that the breakup allowed her to find herself again. The NASCAR trailblazer described the journey that she’d been on after having her heart broken by Rodgers.
Another thing that Patrick learned from the breakup was that it’s important to embrace hard times, rather than running from them.
“Get into the f*****g mud, and get into the pain. You can’t ignore it if you have a problem,” she said. “It’s like something emotional, or a pattern that keeps showing up, you’ve gotta get in the mud about it. You’ve gotta get into the feeling, go to therapy, read the book, talk to your friends, sit in the pain. Nothing comes from ignoring that pain.”
While the breakup with Rodgers clearly had a big impact on Patrick, it appears the former driver is grateful for what the experience taught her and she’s in a much better place today.