NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers has responded to allegations made by CNN regarding his involvement in sharing false conspiracy theories about the 2012 Sandy Hook shooting. While Rodgers did not deny engaging in these conversations, he clarified his stance in a social media post, stating that he has "never been of the opinion that the events did not take place."

In his post, Rodgers emphasized his previous statements about the Sandy Hook tragedy, acknowledging it as an "absolute tragedy." He expressed his hope that society could learn from such incidents, stating, "I hope that we learn from this and other tragedies to identify the signs that will allow us to prevent unnecessary loss of life." Rodgers also extended his thoughts and prayers to the affected families and the entire Sandy Hook community.

CNN reported on allegations that Rodgers engaged in conspiratorial conversations about Sandy Hook with two individuals, including CNN's Pamela Brown. One source, who was granted anonymity by CNN to avoid harassment, recalled Rodgers claiming that Sandy Hook "never happened" and that the children involved were "actors." Rodgers initially declined to comment through his agent before addressing the allegations on social media.

The Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting that occurred in December 2012 resulted in the tragic loss of 20 children and six adults. In an interview shortly after the shooting, Rodgers expressed his hope for implementing changes to prevent similar incidents. "I hope that we can learn from this and look for the signs more and not ever have something like this happen," he said.

Responding to the allegations, a spokesperson for Robert F. Kennedy's campaign, Stefanie Spear, characterized the Sandy Hook shooting as a "horrific tragedy" and emphasized the need to honor the victims' memory. Kennedy, who is considering Rodgers for his vice presidential pick, praised Rodgers as a "critical thinker" who maintains a skeptical attitude towards authority.

Rodgers' past comments about the shooting have not been directly addressed by Kennedy, who did not address the allegations during an interview on Fox News.

The controversy surrounding Aaron Rodgers and his alleged involvement in conspiracy theories related to the Sandy Hook shooting has sparked intense debate within the public sphere. As the situation continues to unfold, the focus remains on the tragedy that took place in 2012 and the need to prevent such incidents from occurring again.

CNN's Pamela Brown and Jake Tapper contributed to this report.