Colin Kaepernick is speaking out after Jay-Z referenced him during a freestyle earlier this summer, and he’s making it clear that he believes the rapper is still trying to defend decisions that sparked criticism years ago.
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During a recent interview with NBC News’ Lester Holt, Kaepernick addressed Jay-Z’s lyrics, which resurfaced debate over the rapper’s partnerships with both the NFL and Target. In the freestyle, Jay-Z suggested that Kaepernick accepted a settlement from the NFL that included a non-disparagement agreement while insisting he couldn’t be controlled by the league.
Kaepernick rejected that narrative and said Jay-Z’s comments reveal more about the rapper than they do about him.
According to the former NFL quarterback, the backlash Jay-Z faced after partnering with the NFL in 2019 has clearly stayed with him. Kaepernick believes the fact that the issue continues to come up years later suggests Jay-Z is still trying to reshape public opinion.
“I view that as speaking to a guilty conscience,” Kaepernick said, adding that he sees the remarks as an attempt to reframe the conversation surrounding the criticism Jay-Z received.
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Kaepernick also pointed to Roc Nation’s ongoing relationship with the NFL as another reason he wasn’t surprised by the comments. Since Roc Nation entered its partnership with the league in 2019, the company has played a major role in producing the Super Bowl Halftime Show while also working with the NFL on social justice initiatives.
The former San Francisco 49ers quarterback, who has long maintained that the NFL effectively blackballed him after he began kneeling during the national anthem in protest of racial injustice, said he isn’t interested in responding to every criticism directed his way.
Instead, he believes his work should speak for itself.
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That philosophy is also reflected in how Kaepernick is releasing his upcoming memoir, The Perilous Fight. While Jay-Z recently faced criticism for selling a special edition of Reasonable Doubt through Target despite ongoing boycotts tied to the retailer’s rollback of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, Kaepernick has chosen a different approach.
A spokesperson confirmed that his memoir will not be sold at Target stores.
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Rather than partnering with the retail giant, Kaepernick is working with the National Association of Black Bookstores for his nationwide book tour. The partnership will help distribute the memoir through Black-owned bookstores across the country, a decision that aligns with his longtime commitment to supporting Black communities and businesses.
Although Kaepernick and Jay-Z were once viewed as allies in the fight for social justice, their relationship has shifted dramatically over the years. While Kaepernick says he understands why Jay-Z is trying to protect his reputation, he remains focused on his own activism and believes his actions will continue to define his legacy more than any public back-and-forth.
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