Jay-Z sparked fresh controversy after a freestyle lyric about Colin Kaepernick raised eyebrows during his concert at Yankee Stadium. The rapper suggested the former NFL quarterback accepted a settlement that included a non-disparagement agreement, but new reports claimed that wasn’t actually part of the deal.
The lyric quickly fueled online debate, reviving a years-old conversation about Jay-Z’s relationship with the NFL and his past support of Kaepernick. It also prompted questions about why the rapper chose to revisit the subject now.
Insiders allege Colin Kaepernick never signed a non-disparagement agreement with the NFL
According to TMZ Sports, Jay-Z rapped during his July 10 performance, “Buddy took a check, I ain’t even mad at him, but along with that check you have to sign a non-disparagement. I’m the one they can’t control.” However, sources with direct knowledge of Kaepernick’s 2019 settlement reportedly disputed that claim.
The outlet reported that no non-disparagement clause existed in the confidential settlement Kaepernick reached with the NFL after alleging league owners colluded to keep him off the field following his national anthem protests. One source said that Kaepernick’s continued criticism of the league on social media demonstrated he was never barred from speaking out, saying he wouldn’t have been able to publicly count the days since an NFL team last signed him if such an agreement had existed.
While the settlement itself remained confidential, it only prevented both sides from revealing its terms.
The timing of the lyrics also surprised fans. The criticism surrounding Jay-Z’s 2019 Roc Nation partnership with the NFL had largely faded. At the time, some supporters of Kaepernick argued the deal undermined the quarterback’s protest movement, while Jay-Z maintained the partnership was intended to create meaningful change through action.
Before partnering with the NFL, Jay-Z had publicly supported Kaepernick’s protests, calling the movement a “human issue” during a 2017 concert. He later acknowledged that he and Kaepernick simply disagreed on strategy while continuing to support the same cause.
TELL US – WERE YOU SURPRISED TO LEARN THAT SOURCES DISPUTED JAY-Z’S CLAIM ABOUT COLIN KAEPERNICK’S NFL SETTLEMENT?
Originally reported by Vanshika Vasundhare Singh on Mandatory
