Arom Hernandez's Sexuality: Exploring His Life And Legacy

The sexuality of Aaron Hernandez, a former NFL star, convicted murderer, and suicide victim, has been the subject of much speculation. Hernandez was engaged to his high school sweetheart, Shayanna Jenkins-Hernandez, with whom he shared a daughter. However, following his death, there have been claims that he was gay, including from a member of his defense team and a high school friend. Hernandez's brother has also stated that Hernandez may have come out to his mother before his suicide. While some sources and media portrayals have emphasized Hernandez's sexuality as a factor in his mental state and actions, others have criticized this as sensational and gratuitous, arguing that his violent upbringing, the influence of those around him, and his severe CTE diagnosis should be the dominant narrative.

Aaron Hernandez's fiancée's perspective on his sexuality

Aaron Hernandez's fiancée, Shayanna Jenkins-Hernandez, has consistently maintained that she had no knowledge of Hernandez being gay or homosexual. In an interview with ABC News, she stated that she saw no indication of him being gay and that he was very much a man to her. She also expressed that she would not have loved him any differently if he had been gay and that she wished he had felt comfortable enough to confide in her.

In the foreword of attorney Jose Baez's book, "Unnecessary Roughness," Jenkins-Hernandez wrote about the speculation surrounding Hernandez's sexuality after his death. She reiterated that she saw no indication of him being gay and wished that he had shared his true feelings with her. She also stated that she would have been supportive if he had confided in her.

Jenkins-Hernandez and Hernandez had been a couple since they were teenagers and shared a daughter born in 2012. In an interview on "Dr. Phil," Jenkins-Hernandez described Hernandez as being absolutely in love and focused on their daughter when they were all together. She also said that Hernandez saw fatherhood as a "life changer" and wanted to be a good father and raise his daughter right.

Despite the speculation about Hernandez's sexuality, Jenkins-Hernandez has consistently maintained that she had no knowledge of him being gay and has expressed her support for the LGBTQ community. She has also emphasized the importance of people being true to themselves and not feeling shame about their sexuality.

Speculation about Hernandez's sexuality during his trial

Speculation about Aaron Hernandez's sexuality was widespread during his trial. Hernandez was a former NFL star who was convicted of the murder of Odin Lloyd, the boyfriend of his fiancée's sister Shaneah Jenkins, in 2015. He was found dead in his prison cell in 2017 after hanging himself with a bedsheet.

Hernandez's sexuality was speculated as a motive during his murder trial. Days before his death, investigative journalist Michelle McPhee made jokes about his sexuality on the radio show with friends Kirk Minihane and Gerry Callahan. She later wrote a piece for Newsweek that essentially outed Hernandez, claiming that he was bisexual and that his sexuality was a motive for the murder. She also alleged that Hernandez left a suicide note for a prison boyfriend, a claim that was later debunked as the note was addressed to his attorney.

Boston Globe soon reported that gay rights advocates were disturbed by Newsweek's coverage, noting that "unverified reports are not relevant to his crimes or his suicide". The New Yorker also reached out to the Globe to ask about their lack of coverage on the story, to which they responded:

> "We have heard the same rumors as everyone else and have tried to confirm them to the degree they’re relevant to Hernandez’s death, but have not been able to verify that they are based in fact."

Hernandez's brother claimed in his book that although Hernandez never explicitly told him he was gay, he did confide in their mother that he was while in prison. A family attorney, who is gay himself, also said that Hernandez was gay and had confessed as much to his mother and ex-girlfriend. However, he controversially suggested that the sexual abuse Hernandez suffered as a child "caused" his homosexuality, a harmful and outdated perspective.

Hernandez's fiancée, Shayanna Jenkins-Hernandez, wrote in the foreword of attorney Jose Baez's book "Unnecessary Roughness" that she saw no indication that Hernandez was gay. She also said in an interview with ABC News that Hernandez did not express to her in any way that he may have been gay or bisexual, but if he had, she "would not have loved him any differently".

Hernandez's father's homophobia

Aaron Hernandez's father, Dennis, has been described as "very homophobic", frequently using slurs for gay men. This is believed to have had a significant impact on Hernandez, who was a closeted gay man.

The impact of Hernandez's father's homophobia on his son's life and mental state is a significant aspect of the narrative surrounding the former NFL star's story, both in terms of his sexuality and his violent behaviour.

Hernandez's high school and adult relationships

Aaron Hernandez's high school and adult relationships have been the subject of much speculation. Hernandez and his fiancée, Shayanna Jenkins-Hernandez, were together since they were teenagers and shared a daughter born in 2012. They began dating in high school and got engaged in October 2012, a month before their daughter, Avielle, was born. Hernandez called becoming a dad a "life changer" and said it would make him "think of life a lot differently".

However, there have been claims that Hernandez was gay or bisexual, and that he had a sexual relationship with a male former high school classmate, Dennis Sansoucie. In the Ryan Murphy series, *American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez*, Hernandez is depicted as a closeted gay man, struggling with his sexuality due to his father's homophobia. The series shows him hooking up with men while also having a fiancée and a newborn daughter.

Hernandez's sexuality was also speculated upon as a possible motive during his murder trial. Investigative journalist Michelle McPhee wrote a piece for Newsweek that essentially outed Hernandez, claiming that he was bisexual and that his sexuality was a motive for the murder. However, these claims have been disputed, and there is conflicting evidence about Hernandez's true sexuality. His fiancée, Jenkins-Hernandez, has stated that she saw no indication that he was gay or homosexual, but she also said that she wished he had felt comfortable enough to confide in her.

Hernandez's brain injury and its potential influence on his actions

Aaron Hernandez, the former NFL tight end who was convicted of murder, died by suicide in his prison cell in 2017 at the age of 27. An autopsy revealed that he had a severe case of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a neurodegenerative disease associated with violence, depression, and dementia-like symptoms. CTE is believed to be caused by repetitive mild traumatic brain injury, possibly suffered on the football field. Hernandez had been playing tackle football since he was 8 years old and had suffered two documented concussions, one in high school and one while playing for the Patriots.

The question arises as to whether Hernandez's brain injury influenced his actions, particularly the murder of Odin Lloyd, his fiancée's sister's boyfriend. While some have speculated that CTE may have contributed to Hernandez's violent behavior, the link between brain biology and behavior is complex and not yet fully understood. Substance abuse and steroid use, for example, are also factors that can increase the risk of violent behavior.

In the case of Hernandez, there were other factors at play as well. He had a troubled upbringing, with an abusive and homophobic father, and struggled with drug and alcohol abuse. These factors, combined with the brain injury, may have contributed to his actions.

While CTE may have played a role in Hernandez's behavior, the exact influence is difficult to determine. The interplay of biological, psychological, and social factors is complex, and more research is needed to fully understand the potential impact of brain injuries on an individual's actions.

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