Because the stunning and up to date rape lawsuit lobbed in opposition to Jay-Z continues to play out within the court docket of public opinion, many are questioning if and when the rapper and his ties to the NFL will likely be severed—if in any respect.
As you effectively know, the “Magna Carter Holy Grail” rapper and his media firm Roc Nation signed on for a partnership with the group again in 2019 to advise on the collection of artists for main NFL occasions and performances just like the Tremendous Bowl. The connection between the 2 has seemingly paid off ever since and in accordance with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on Thursday, it doesn’t appear to be these bombshell allegations have finished something to hamper that.
“I’m conscious of the allegations and Jay-Z’s actually sturdy response to that. We all know that litigation is occurring now so from our standpoint our relationship is just not altering with him together with our preparations for the subsequent Tremendous Bowl,” Goodell stated on Wednesday earlier than later describing the connection between the 2 entities as “useful” and “good.”
If the commissioner’s response appears a bit odd given the severity of the allegations the rapper is dealing with—it really shouldn’t be. Unhappy because it sounds, the NFL has had and presently has its justifiable share of problematic gamers who’ve been accused and/or convicted of equally disturbing allegations and the NFL has finished little to nothing to distance themselves from them. Whether or not it’s Cleveland Browns participant Michael Corridor and his current home violence points or somebody from the old-fashioned like Ray Rice who additionally handled related points—the group has an unlucky historical past of not doing an excessive amount of to take a big sufficient stand in opposition to dangerous conduct.
Now certain, is the NFL’s loyalty to Jay-Z a bit stunning contemplating the swift approach Hollywood dropped one other influential individual like Jonathan Majors when the allegations about his home dispute hit the fan? Sure it’s, when you think about the truth that Black people barely get a possibility to the mess up and are available again or get the advantage of the doubt versus different white public figures. However once more, we’re speaking about a company that had plenty of smoke for Colin Kaepernick who was standing up for the correct factor years in the past however remained principally quiet when constantly dangerous actors reared their heads. So their ethical compass deserves to be put underneath the microscope.
Regardless, it’ll be fascinating to see how the connection shapes up within the months after the Tremendous Bowl and as extra details about the swimsuit comes out.