The NFL will allegedly retain its entertainment partnership with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation despite the federal lawsuit against him regarding the rape of a girl. Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, is an executive producer of the Super Bowl halftime show.
He has recently been accused of raping an anonymous girl in 2000 in Manhattan when she was 13 years old following her alleged invite to a party after the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall. It is claimed Jay-Z did so alongside recently disgraced rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs. The allegations stem from a previously reported incident where Diddy was named but not Jay-Z.
Despite the allegations, the NFL has decided to uphold its entertainment partnership with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation and allow legal proceedings to play out.
The NFL signed a deal with Jay-Z around 2019-2020, before the development of the sexual assault allegations against him, to enhance its Super Bowl halftime show, other events and social activism. This allowed for iconic performances by artists such as Rihanna, Eminem and The Weekend. The next Super Bowl halftime show is set to take place at The Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on February 9.
On December 11, 2024, during a press conference promoting Netflix’s NFL Christmas GameDay, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell voiced:
“We’re aware of the civil allegations and Jay-Z’s really strong response to that. We know, obviously, the litigation is happening now. Our relationship is not changing including our preparations with the next Super Bowl.”
Widely acclaimed performer Beyonce, who is married to Jay-Z, will perform during halftime at the Baltimore Ravens-Houston Texans game on Christmas.
Goodell also expressed the following about the pair: “I think they’re getting incredibly comfortable not just with the Super Bowl but other events they’ve advised us on and helped us with. They’ve been a big help in the social justice area to us on many occasions. They’ve been great partners.”
Jay-Z has voiced that he will fight for his innocence and “expose” the lawyer representing Jay Z’s alleged victim for being a “fraud” for defending the “heinous” allegations against him.
