In this profound and poignant portrayal of Aaron Hernandez’s life, we witness a complex tapestry of love, identity, and the relentless pursuit of self-discovery. As a spectator, I find myself deeply moved by Shayanna’s unwavering loyalty to Aaron, a bond that transcends societal norms and defies conventional notions of love.
It seems as though there’s no method to alter destiny, but examining the path taken by Aaron Hernandez offers insight into those pivotal instances where different choices might have led to a very different outcome.
Throughout most of his life, which came to an end at age 27 following a suicide in a prison cell on April 19, 2017, two years after being convicted of murder, he primarily focused on football. Born in Bristol, Conn., this individual was part of the University of Florida’s 2009 national championship team alongside Tim Tebow and played in the 2012 Super Bowl for the New England Patriots, where he caught eight passes from Tom Brady in one of the team’s infrequent losses during the big game.
In August 2012, Aaron signed a five-year contract worth $40 million. A few months later, he welcomed a child, sharing a birthday on November 6th with his fiancée Shayanna Jenkins’ daughter Avielle Janelle Jenkins Hernandez.
Afterward, his life began to fall apart dramatically. Initially, his decline came as a shock, but upon further reflection, it turned out not to be entirely unexpected.
According to Stuart Zicherman, creator of FX’s American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez, if Hernandez hadn’t attended college immediately after his father’s death at a young age, when he was also grappling with his sexuality and keeping many secrets, and if he hadn’t been drafted by the Patriots, then this story might have had a different ending. This is because being drafted to a team so close to home was extremely challenging for him since home was such a source of distress for him.
The anthology series, a new production from Ryan Murphy’s extensive TV empire, is based on the Boston Globe-Wondery podcast “Gladiator: Aaron Hernandez and Football Inc.” This podcast explored how the athlete’s narrative intersected with broader themes such as sports and celebrity culture, hero worship, harmful masculinity, and homophobia.
In significant tragic incidents that shaped his life, Aaron experienced the torment of adoring an abusive father, who later passed away abruptly at the age of 16, with Dennis Hernandez losing his life in January 2006, following complications from hernia surgery.
Additionally, the posthumous examination by The Globe revealed that as an adult, Aaron confided in people about being abused sexually at a young age. In his 2018 book, brother Jonathan Hernandez disclosed that Aaron was six when an older boy first victimized him. Later on, from prison, Aaron shared this traumatic experience with their mother Terri Hernandez, but during the incident, Jonathan was unaware of what Aaron had just endured.
Since his passing, there’s been continuous discussion and conjecture suggesting that Aaron might have been homosexual, and he made efforts to hide this aspect of his personal life.
In his memory, Jonathan penned down how he once inquired from Aaron about his sexual orientation. He noted that after expressing to his older brother that he loved him unconditionally, Aaron sternly warned him not to bring it up again. If Jonathan repeated the question, Aaron threatened him, saying, “I’ll seriously hurt you.
As a lifestyle expert looking back on 2020, I found myself reflecting on the complexities of human emotion. Despite sharing a life with Aaron and our beautiful child, I can’t help but express that I was often left guessing about his inner feelings.
As a devoted admirer, I confess I’d yearned for the truth all along. If only I’d known, back on Good Morning America, if my high school sweetheart harbored such feelings towards men, I wish he had confided in me. It would have been heart-wrenching, yet I wouldn’t have loved him any less.
Even though Aaron’s tale initially captivates us, it’s the enigmatic aspects of who he truly was that sparked an ongoing quest to decipher him, giving rise to a thriving field of exploration.
In discussions about authenticity, dual identities, or hidden truths, Zicherman shared with TopMob that the individual is utterly clueless about his true self. He’s been enlisted onto a top-tier sports team, where they anticipate him to embody manhood.
Adding to the complexity, scientists at Boston University’s CTE Center reported discovering typical indicators of a condition called chronic traumatic encephalopathy in Aaron’s brain. This condition, which can only be identified after death, has been associated with a variety of symptoms such as mood changes, aggressive tendencies, and dementia in athletes who experienced repeated head injuries.
From my perspective as a dedicated follower, it’s clear that no single event can be pointed to as the cause for Aaron’s conviction for fatally shooting Odin Lloyd on July 17, 2013, or his subsequent decision to take his own life in 2017. This decision was made following his acquittal in a 2012 double homicide case and while his previous conviction was under appeal.
As I, Josh Rivera, portray Hernandez in American Sports Story, I exclusively shared with TopMob an insightful observation: The result we see is a complex tapestry woven by various elements. It’s essential to understand that numerous entities and cultural dynamics foster this type of conduct across diverse sectors, particularly professional sports. These are young individuals who experience rapid fame and wealth, which unfortunately can be exploited by those outside their circle who may not prioritize their best interests.
And Hernandez, the actor continued, must have faced “an immense amount of pressure” to perform.
2007 saw Scout.com ranking him as the top high school tight end prospect. At first, he intended to play for the University of Connecticut in his home state. However, Florida’s coach Urban Meyer paid a personal visit to the 17-year-old to try and convince him to join the team in Gainesville instead.
In 2009, Hernandez earned the title of a first-team All-American. However, it wasn’t until the fourth round of the 2010 NFL Draft that the Patriots selected him. This late pick is often linked to his troubles off the field, such as repeated failed drug tests for marijuana and an alleged involvement in a 2007 bar fight. The authorities initially wanted to charge him with felony battery, but the prosecution was postponed.
In an interview with TopMob, producer Nina Jacobson suggested a different path for Aaron Hernandez’s life. She pondered, “If Hernandez had spent more time maturing and growing before entering college, it could have significantly altered his life trajectory.” Furthermore, she added, “Had he remained at Florida for an extended period as a player to mature before joining the NFL, that might have made a difference. And if he had been penalized every time he got into trouble—if he was only allowed to play when he could manage his off-field behavior—that could have altered many aspects of his life too.
If a different team had picked up Hernandez, he would still have been more distant from the factors in his troubled hometown of Bristol, which played a role in his decline.
“If he’s playing in Seattle,” series creator Zicherman noted, “it’s a different story.”
Personally, I can’t help but be captivated by the profound narrative that unfolds in this series. As Brad Simpson, its producer, eloquently puts it, “It’s a journey about how we idolize our heroes in America, only to discard them when they stumble.” It delves deep into the realms of race, social class, and the harsh reality of what happens to these prodigious young men who possess extraordinary talents.
Norbert Leo Butz, portraying the long-term Patriots coach Bill Belichick, agreed that the show isn’t solely focused on Hernandez or football; instead, it encompasses a broader, multi-layered sadness.
Aaron is often seen as a tragic hero, with football being his domain that brought him fame, shared the Tony Award-winning actor with TopMob. The play, however, delves into our duty and involvement, both as a culture and society, in elevating and venerating our outstanding athletes and actors. It also explores our tendency to judge them, sometimes even taking pleasure in their downfall when looking back.
At the same time, Hernandez still has a legacy in the form of his daughter, Avielle.
In 2012, when his child was just two days old, he expressed to reporters that he could no longer live as the reckless young man, Aaron. Instead, he intended to make responsible choices, strive to be a good parent, and grow up in a similar manner as he was brought up.
Seven months after the crime, he was detained under suspicion for murder. However, despite the prosecutors portraying him as a ruthless murderer destined for a lifelong imprisonment, the recollections of those who knew Aaron’s kind-hearted nature have prevented his narrative from being overly simplified and easily condemned.
In the TV series titled “American Sports Story”, Jaylen Barron, portraying Aaron’s fiancée Shayanna, revealed to TopMob an exclusive insight: “We get the opportunity to delve into the intricacies of these relationships and uncover the private discussions that usually remain hidden from us.
The actress openly acknowledged being deeply moved by Shayanna’s loyalty towards Aaron, no matter what the circumstances were.
Barron commented, “She was incredibly passionate about him, and he was equally devoted to her. While it may not conform to the conventional understanding of love, it was a deeply unique and intricate relationship. She embraced him entirely, accepting him just as he was.
Barron explained, “Aaron seemed different to various individuals, yet [Shayanna] knew him as the high school boy she adored and grew alongside. Her loyalty to him was a significant factor in his affection for her, despite its unique expression. Love may be intricate and displayed differently, but that doesn’t make it inherently negative.
Rivera called Aaron’s relationship with Shayanna “double-edged.”
The actor mentioned that it was reassuring to have someone familiar with him over a prolonged period, but he also found it somewhat challenging to clarify his true situation to Shayanna.
Whatever that was, exactly.
Zicherman pondered, “This tale centered around discovering one’s true identity.” As we mature, everyone grapples with this question, and the journey unfolds at different paces for each person. Some find their answers swiftly, while others may never uncover them completely.
In the realm of football, he stated, Aaron was not able to fully express who he truly desired to be, or at least delve into that identity.
According to producer Jacobson, Aaron was seeking a place where he belonged but found none, resulting in him hiding parts of himself that didn’t align with his perceived identity. This feeling was akin to being lost, lonely, and isolated, with the pressure to keep suppressing one’s true self until the facade eventually crumbled under the stress of conflicting identities, leading to an emotional breakdown.
And it’s natural to want Aaron to be a little less human as well.
As the dedicated fan I was, I could never shake off the undercurrent of unease that persisted within me, knowing full well the devastating acts he had committed. And yet, as we delved deeper into Aaron’s past, uncovering his childhood struggles, my heart couldn’t help but soften towards him a little. This was the intricate dance I found myself in while leading the Boston Globe Magazine’s comprehensive 2018 investigation on Aaron, an exploration that extended to the captivating Gladiator podcast produced by our Spotlight Team.
However, she shared with TopMob her belief that there’s a universal trait in humans: we tend to categorize our feelings towards others as positive or negative. We either find someone likable or dislikable, and we may perceive them as virtuous or wicked.
As Zicherman put it, “I thought I knew the story, and then I read the Spotlight piece.”
—Reporting by Nikaline McCarley
The captivating American Sports tale titled “Aaron Hernandez” will make its debut on September 17, airing at 10:00 PM on FX. For those who can’t wait until tomorrow, new episodes will be available for streaming on Hulu.
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2024-09-10 16:25