JoJo Fletcher is opening up about the media storm that nearly broke her engagement to Jordan Rodgers.
Fletcher, 40, said in an exclusive interview that the barrage of false headlines during their first year together inflicted real damage on the fledgling couple. “I remember seeing so many ridiculous headlines that were always so far from the truth,” she said. “In the moment, it wrecked us.”
The former “Bachelorette” lead, who met Rodgers during season 12 of the ABC dating show in 2016, explained that the timing compounded the pressure. “When we came off the show, it was just when social media started becoming more of a thing,” she said while discussing her partnership with Mucinex 12HR Cold & Fever Multi-Symptom. “And the media was obsessed with the show at that time.”
“We were like, ‘Why are they saying this and this?’ and I think part of that contributed to some of the stresses that we had as a new couple and a new relationship trying to figure out life together,” Fletcher continued. The coverage focused heavily on Rodgers’ family dynamics, particularly his estrangement from older brother Aaron Rodgers, the NFL quarterback. During the hometown visit to Chico, California, Jordan introduced Fletcher to parents Ed and Darla Rodgers and brother Luke Rodgers while explaining the rift with Aaron. “It pains both of us like, not to have that relationship,” Luke said during the filmed visit. “We miss our brother.”
The scrutiny followed them well beyond the finale, where Rodgers proposed on one knee. “We had a pretty tough year,” Fletcher admitted. “I’ve been very open about that, but we’ve always kept choosing each other and we kept choosing to work through it.”
Their persistence paid off. The couple wed in May 2022 after twice postponing their ceremony due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and on Dec. 23, they welcomed daughter Romy Blair Rodgers via emergency C-section.
Fletcher credits their survival to a deliberate choice to exit the reality television bubble immediately. “I think the biggest thing that we did that made a huge difference is we got out of the bubble as soon as we could,” she said. “We went straight back to our normal lives. We were straight back to work. We didn’t stay and we didn’t do all this and that event and that party.”
That grounding, she believes, allowed them to navigate the inevitable difficulties that follow the cameras. “I think that was really important because there’s so much more learning of each other a lot of hardships that you go through right after the show,” she said. “Everyone thinks it’s this perfect relationship and fairy tale, but you’re really just learning each other. You’re getting thrust into like the real world with real problems and real life obligations and responsibilities.”
A decade removed from their televised meeting, Fletcher said the couple can now find humor in their turbulent origin story. “Now 10 years later, a baby, it’s just so silly,” she said. “But it’s a funny story to be able to tell and we’re really lucky that it worked out for us, so I’m forever grateful for that show and that experience. I don’t know where I’d be without it, to be honest.”
Motherhood has shifted her priorities toward practical health concerns, which she said inspired the Mucinex collaboration. “When you become a mom, you don’t get to feel sick,” Fletcher said. “Being able to have 12-hour relief is a game changer. You also forget to take care of yourself, so just being able to take it when you feel it and have it get you through the day — this saved me.”
Aaron Rodgers has since indicated that the family is working on rebuilding their fractured relationship.
Fletcher and Rodgers continue to build their life together in Texas with infant daughter Romy.