The new FX series American sports history strongly suggests that Aaron Hernandez was abused as a child. Josh Rivera directs that American sports history Cast as Aaron Hernandez, the former college and NFL superstar tight end who was convicted in 2015 of murdering semi-pro football player Odin Lloyd. The first two episodes of American sports history Get a basic overview of Aaron Hernandez’s complicated upbringing, tumultuous family life, and accelerated path to the Florida Gator before joining the NFL’s New England Patriots in 2010. American sports history Episode 3 explores Hernandez’s celebrity status and religious considerations at the University of Florida.

American sports history Episode 4 reviews more details of Hernandez’s transition from a 2010 John Mackey Award winner to a plummeting draft stock prior to the NFL Draft due to off-the-field concerns. Episode 4 also introduces Hernandez’s longtime agent, Brian Murphy, who is the CEO of Athletes First, one of the top professional athlete management companies in the country. As part of his NFL scouting process at the 2010 NFL Combine, Hernandez took the Wonderlic test and scored well below average among other tight ends. The episode begins with Aaron is alone in his room with his uncle Robert “Bobby” Valentine.

Aaron Hernandez admitted to being sexually abused as a child

Hernandez himself has never spoken publicly on the issue

American sports history Episode 4 begins abruptly with a scene suggesting that Hernandez was molested or sexually abused as a young child. Aaron and his older brother DJ are depicted at the beginning of Episode 4 as young children who appear to be in elementary school. DJ is playing outside in the garden with some friends when he goes into his house looking for his little brother. DJ wonders why the door is closed and starts knocking An older man, identified as Uncle Bobby, walks out and explains that he gave Aaron his “birthday money.”that’s the title of the episode. Young Aaron sits on the bed and pushes his brother as he storms away.

The real Aaron Hernandez revealed to several people, including his brother DJ, that he was abused as a child. It is plausible that Aaron told his brother who else was involved in the scenario, but this information was never made public. Hernandez himself never spoke publicly about his sexual abuse as a child. However, it is considered legitimate and one of the many causes of his overall internal conflict, alongside his struggles with impulsivity and angerAdvanced stage CTE and closeted gayness. DJ Hernandez never revealed that he had ever witnessed Aaron’s sexual abuse. It’s unclear exactly when Aaron told his brother this information.

Aaron Hernandez’s uncle Robert Valentine has never been linked to his sexual abuse

Valentine died in a moped accident in 2013

Aaron’s claim that he was abused as a child was confirmed by Aaron’s brother DJ Hernandez, who now goes by Jonathan, and one of his lawyers, George Leontire. However, there is There is no record that Aaron Hernandez’s uncle, Robert Valentine, was ever linked to his sexual abuse. According to ESPN “Jonathan Hernandez told (The Boston) Globe that Aaron Hernandez revealed later in his adult life that he had been abused as a young boy. One of Aaron’s lawyers in his criminal case also said Aaron had spoken to him about sexual abuse as a child. Neither was willing to identify the perpetrator to the Globe.” There was never any documented or reported inappropriate relationship between the two.

Because Ryan Murphy and the development team at American sports history Since they never spoke to Aaron’s family when creating the series, it is unlikely that they have this alleged connection between Aaron and his Uncle Bobby from a credible source. Valentine was one of two relatives of Hernandez who died in two separate car accidents in the summer of 2013 (via ESPN). Valentine died in a moped accident on August 4, 2013. It is plausible that since it is not possible to defame a deceased person, American sports history took creative license to characterize Uncle Bobby as Aaron’s abuser.

Was Aaron Hernadnez’s uncle a convicted felon?

The real Robert Valentine had no criminal record

Aaron’s uncle Robert Valentine, the biological brother of Aaron’s mother Terri Hernandez, had a clean criminal record. That suggests so He was not arrested and served no prison time for exposing himself on a school bus as American sports history claimed through a fictional conversation between Brian Murphy and DJ Hernandez at the Athletes First training facility. This major change to the true story allowed the series to create a lasting grudge between Aaron and his brother, at the expense of Robert Valentine’s reputation. Additionally, there was a heated confrontation between Aaron and DJ American sports history Episode 4. In truth, Aaron’s perpetrator was never identified.

Source: ESPN