Aaron Rodgers says California's strict COVID-19 rules destroyed small businesses in his hometown

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Rick Osentoski/AP Images

• Aaron Rodgers appeared on Bill Maher's "Club Random" podcast scheduled to premiere Sept. 11.
• In a preview, Rodgers slams the state of California for its COVID-19 prevention policies and their impact on business. 
• 'State's going to shit, but I'm hanging on,' Rodgers told Maher.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is slamming COVID-19 rules once again — this time on claims they destroyed small businesses in his hometown, he said.

In an episode of Bill Maher's "Club Random" podcast, Rodgers calls out the state of California for strict social distancing and mask guidelines in 2020 and 2021, according to a preview of the episode shared by SFGate ahead of its Sunday premiere.

Rodgers told Maher he believes the "state's going to shit" and chastised California officials for their coronavirus prevention tactics.

"I grew up in a small town, very little cases up in Chico, California, but all the small businesses? Fucking gone," Rodgers said on the podcast. 

An estimated 40,000 small businesses in California were closed in September 2020, more than any other state since the beginning of the pandemic, according to a report published by Yelp. At the time, half of these companies were permanently shuttered, the report said. 

On the podcast, Rodgers also blasted Governor Gavin Newsom for his bill, AB 2098, that would make spreading misinformation or disinformation a punishable offense by a physician or surgeon.

"I don't believe the government should have any control over what we do with our bodies," Rodgers said at one point.

Rodgers's comments come after the NFL player expressed similar sentiments while speaking on "The Joe Rogan Experience" podcast in August.

Rodgers has also been the subject of controversy for refusing to get the COVID-19 vaccination. In a 2021 appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, he accused the NFL of trying to shame its players into getting vaccinated with their protocols for the season.

"The great MLK said you have a moral obligation to object to unjust rules and rules that make no sense," Rodgers said.