FORMER NFL star Aaron Hernandez is no longer around to explain himself, but figures from his past are trying to separate the fact from the fiction in the life of the ex-New England Patriots player and convicted murderer.
In the 11 months since the 27-year-old took his own life in prison, there have been unconfirmed rumours about the sexuality of the former Pro Bowler, and a new documentary features allegations from strong sources stating he struggled with his orientation.
In Oxygen’s Aaron Hernandez Uncovered, a former girlfriend and one of his lawyers reveal their dealings with Hernandez, both alleging he had suggested he was gay.
Alyssa Anderson, who dated Hernandez while they attended the University of Florida, said they connected again years after splitting, after she heard he was arrested in connection with the murder of semi-professional football player Odin Lloyd.
By the end of the American Sports Story finale, Hernandez takes his own life in his prison celljust days after being acquitted of two additional murder charges for a 2012 double homicide in Boston. When presented with the allegations of his sexual orientation, she said she “was confused. I still kind of am.” Jenkins-Hernandez is specially thanked in the credits of the documentary, which aired this weekend.
George Leontire, who was a member of Hernandez’s defense team and who is gay, said he talked with Hernandez about his sexuality.
“This man clearly was gay,” said Leontire, who spoke offhandedly but did not further detail their conversations.
ET/PT. I still kind of am”. All suspicions led to Aaron Hernandez and he was arrested at his home and charged with first-degree murder. “This man clearly was gay,” the lawyer, who is also gay, said.
Related: Aaron Hernandez’s Net Worth Reveals How Much of His Lucrative NFL Salary He Left to His Family
In American Sports Story, the first two episodes lean into the theory that Aaron was gay in his adolescence.
The body of semi-professional football player Odin Lloyd was discovered in an industrial park in North Attleborough, Massachusetts. I wish he would’ve told me because I would not have loved him any differently. He pleaded not guilty and on April 19, 2017, he was found dead in his prison cell at the Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center.
They communicated through letters, in which Hernandez allegedly opened up to her.
“He admitted to being molested as a kid,” Anderson said. McPhee began her journalism career with The Boston Globe in 1993 and was also a writer on Showtime's City on a Hill.
McPhee appeared on "The Kirk & Callahan Show" on April 17, 2017, two days after Hernandez was acquitted of the double homicide and two days before his death by suicide.
I would’ve understood. Acknowledged the immense pain that it caused him. His fiancé Shayana Jenkins-Hernandez wrote in the forward of attorney Jose Baez’s book Unnecessary Roughness, “There has been much speculation about Aaron’s sexuality since his death. Call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 for free and confidential counseling.