Jay Z Opens Up About His NFL Partnership

In a new interview with The New York Times, Jay Z defended his partnership with the NFL — which many saw as a betrayal of Colin Kaepernick. He said, “No one is saying he hasn’t been done wrong. He was done wrong. I would understand if it was three months ago. But it was three years ago and someone needs to say, ‘What do we do now — because people are still dying?'” He added, “We didn’t say, ‘Let’s go make some money off the NFL.'”

He then said about Kap, “We are two adult men who disagree on the tactic but are marching for the same cause.”

On the criticism he faced for the move, he said, “As long as real people are being hurt and marginalized and losing family members, then yes, I can take a couple rounds of negative press.”

Jay Z also addressed why he turned down the opportunity to perform at the halftime show during the Superbowl. He said that the NFL wanted him to bring out special guests Kanye West and Rihanna. He explained, “Of course I would have, but I said, ‘No, you get me.’ That is not how you go about it, telling someone that they’re going to do the halftime show contingent on who they bring. I said forget it. It was a principle thing.”

Meanwhile, despite his partnership with the NFL, Jay Z, wife Beyonce and daughter Blue Ivy were spotted sitting during the National Anthem.