Nessa Diab Claims Jay-Z, Roc Nation Blackballed Kaepernick and Nicki Minaj
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Colin Kaepernick’s longtime partner, media personality Nessa Diab, is speaking out against Jay-Z and his Roc Nation team, accusing the entertainment mogul and Roc Nation CEO Desiree Perez of blackballing both Kaepernick and Nicki Minaj through their industry influence.
In a series of pointed social media posts on July 16, Diab drew parallels between the alleged behind-the-scenes tactics reportedly used to silence both the former NFL quarterback and the rap superstar.
She referenced Roc Nation’s controversial $25 million partnership with the NFL, signed in 2019, while Kaepernick remained unsigned after leading protests against police brutality by kneeling during the national anthem.
“@NICKIMINAJ exposing the smear campaign tactics that Jay-Z, Roc Nation, Desiree Perez did to her behind the scenes is VERY similar to what I was told they did to @Kaepernick7,” Diab tweeted.
She accused Roc Nation of taking millions from the league to “bury the growing protest” and help the NFL “move beyond the controversy around teams’ unwillingness to sign Kaepernick.”
Diab also referenced past statements from Perez, who once praised Roc Nation for shifting the public conversation “to fighting for it versus boycotting.” Diab criticized Perez’s ties to former President Trump, who granted Perez a pardon, and highlighted the NFL owners’ support of Trump’s political campaigns.
Jay-Z’s 2019 comment, “I think we’ve moved past kneeling,” following the NFL partnership, has continued to draw backlash from Kaepernick supporters who argue that the heart of the original protest was never addressed.
While Nicki Minaj has recently hinted at disputes with Roc Nation leadership, Diab’s public statements are among the most direct accusations yet, defending Kaepernick’s legacy and calling out what she describes as “shady” dealings.
“I still don’t watch that league or whoever is performing at whatever game they have playing. #stillwithkap #FOREVER,” Diab wrote, reaffirming her ongoing support for Kaepernick’s protest and message.
