Radio host and activist Nessa “Nitty” Diab has reignited long-standing criticism of leisure mogul JAY-Z.

This time, the Hot 97 character has drawn a controversial parallel between his 2019 partnership with the National Football League (NFL) and up to date allegations of business suppression involving rapper Nicki Minaj.

Diab, the longtime companion of former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick, posted a sequence of feedback on Instagram Wednesday (July 16). The put up was an expanded re-post of Nicki Minaj, who continues to levy claims towards Roc Nation. The leisure company is helmed by JAY-Z and led by CEO Desiree Perez.

Diab posted a lengthy reply to Minaj.

“@NICKIMINAJ exposing the smear campaign tactics that Jay-Z, Roc Nation, Desiree Perez did to her behind the scenes, is VERY similar to what I was told they did to @Kaepernick7 when Jay purposely co-opted Colin’s protest by siding with the NFL to help ‘their image’ after they blackballed Colin for his protest.”

https://twitter.com/nessnitty/status/1945597689040965749

The declare references the 2019 deal JAY-Z brokered between Roc Nation and the NFL. The partnership was valued at $25 million over a five-year interval. The settlement, in response to a report by ESPN, was designed to boost the league’s leisure choices and amplify its social justice initiatives. It was additionally reportedly meant to assist it “move beyond the controversy around teams’ unwillingness to sign Kaepernick.”

In a press convention on the time, JAY-Z famously said, “I think we’ve moved past kneeling,” referring to Kaepernick’s silent protest through the nationwide anthem. That controversial transfer started in 2016 to boost consciousness about police brutality and racial injustice. Kaepernick opted out of his contract with the San Francisco 49ers in 2017 and has not labored within the NFL since then.

Diab was among the many earliest and most vocal critics of JAY-Z’s NFL alignment. She stated the deal neutralized Kaepernick’s affect and appeased staff house owners. She pointed to a press release allegedly made by Patriots proprietor Robert Kraft:

“The NFL isn’t picking up on these social issues. We need your help,” Kraft reportedly informed JAY-Z, resulting in the introduction that helped facilitate the partnership.

In her feedback, Diab additionally took purpose at Perez, Roc Nation’s CEO.

Diab stated:

“Desiree even said ‘We love that everybody wants to be on the stage, that we’ve completely changed the conversation to fighting for it versus boycotting. We’ve come a long way.’ She got her pardon by Trump – no coincidence the NFL owners are his buddies and also donated millions to his campaign. I still don’t watch that league or whoever is performing at whatever game they have playing.”

Diab referred to Perez’s pardon for a 1994 cocaine conspiracy conviction by then-President Donald Trump.

While Diab’s comparability between Minaj and Kaepernick drew assist from some customers, others questioned the validity of conflating the 2 conditions.

“Right message, but wrong messenger when it comes to Nicki,” one commenter wrote. “Her reputation grown into the mean girl… Had she not taken that turn, it might have been impactful.”

Another said, “Nicki ain’t it… She isn’t for the ppl and ain’t did s### to forfeit her career either!”

Diab remained resolute in her place, replying:

“It doesn’t change the message. Smear campaigns happening behind the scenes to harm people’s lives are not right. And calling out powerful people doing it takes a lot of courage.”

Actor and comic Faizon Love additionally weighed in, writing, “These are two separate situations like???”

Diab responded:

“Sure, two different situations with the supposed same smear tactics done against them behind the scenes.”

JAY-Z, Roc Nation, and Desiree Perez haven’t publicly responded to Diab’s latest remarks.

Diab’s feedback have as soon as once more positioned JAY-Z on the heart of a posh dialog.

Funk Flex, one other Hot 97 host, weighed in, tagging Jay’s not often used account.

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