Nessa Diab explains why she spoke out against Roc Nation, credits Nicki Minaj’s boldness [VIDEO]
Nessa Says Nicki Minaj’s Allegations Made Her Break Silence on Jay-Z & NFL
Nessa Diab is a radio personality and wife of activist and former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick. She is again speaking out against Roc Nation. This time, she is linking Roc Nation’s influence in the NFL to broader efforts to discredit her husband and rapper Nicki Minaj. In a new video posted to X this evening, Nessa details what she alleges is a long-standing smear campaign coordinated by Roc Nation. Therefore, suggesting the entertainment company not only played a role in suppressing Kaepernick’s career post-protest but also weaponized its power against Nicki Minaj.
The video is nearly 10 minutes long. It finds Nessa seated in what appears to be a radio studio. Thus, speaking directly to camera. The caption reads: “Not new to this.” Thus, a clear nod to her claim that this is not the first time she’s addressed Roc Nation’s alleged tactics. The post was sparked by Nicki Minaj’s recent viral rants accusing Roc Nation CEO Desiree Perez and Jay-Z of orchestrating sabotage campaigns. Not only does Nessa believe Nicki, but she also feels Roc Nation did her husband the same way.
As a result, she’s providing additional details.
Connecting the Dots: From the NFL to Hip-Hop
Nessa explains that her decision to speak out again stems from seeing Minaj describe experiences that mirror her own. “It triggered me,” she says in the clip. Therefore, referencing what she calls a pattern of behavior from Roc Nation. That’s a pattern she believes includes manipulating media narratives, leveraging legal pressure, and fostering behind-the-scenes tension to isolate and silence dissenters.
The focal point of Diab’s criticism is Roc Nation’s 2019 partnership with the NFL. It’s a deal intended to bridge entertainment and social justice but one that was widely criticized for ignoring the unresolved treatment of Kaepernick, who was blackballed after kneeling during the national anthem in 2016. “Jay-Z didn’t speak to Colin before doing that deal,” she says. “They used that partnership to make it seem like Colin was the problem.”
According to Nessa, this same strategy—discrediting the individual to protect the institution—was deployed against Nicki Minaj. In early July, Minaj posted a barrage of claims accusing Roc Nation and Desiree Perez of everything from stalking to defamation. Nessa says she saw herself in those posts: “They did it to Colin. They’re doing it to her.”
“I Heard the Call:” Inside the Fallout From the NFL Deal
One of the most explosive parts of Nessa’s post is her claim of having overheard a call between Jay-Z and Kaepernick after the Roc Nation-NFL partnership was announced. According to her, Kaepernick confronted Jay-Z directly, expressing disappointment in how the deal went public without his knowledge or support. “Colin told him he was not okay with it. He felt blindsided. And I heard it,” she says.
Nessa implies that Roc Nation moved quickly to shape the narrative around the partnership. Therefore, promoting the idea that Kaepernick no longer wanted to play in the NFL—a claim she says is categorically false.
“He was ready. He was training every day. They just needed to pretend like he was the issue so they wouldn’t lose control of the story,” she asserts.
A Pattern of Silence and Smear?
While some viewers initially dismissed Nicki Minaj’s accusations as erratic, Nessa insists they are part of a larger pattern. “Look at how they move. The bots. The articles. The sudden change in how people view you. That’s not organic. That’s orchestrated.”
She stops short of offering specific evidence but says that Kaepernick’s upcoming documentary, tentatively titled Da Saga of Colin Kaepernick, will include receipts. Directed by Spike Lee and originally set for ESPN, the project is reportedly being shopped to other platforms due to tensions over editorial control. Nessa promises that the film will show how the NFL and Roc Nation coordinated to “whitewash the protest” while alienating its originator.
Public Reaction: Support and Skepticism
Nessa’s video has drawn over 33,000 views, with engagement split between those who applaud her courage and those who dismiss the claims as conspiratorial or self-serving. Hashtags like in support of Colin Kaepernick and Nicki Minaj have gained traction. Meanwhile, critics have pointed to past tensions involving Kaepernick’s workouts and Minaj’s industry feuds as reasons to remain skeptical.
“Let’s not forget he ghosted that NFL workout and moved it at the last minute,” one commenter wrote. Others pushed back, noting that the NFL’s waiver for the event included language that could have waived Kaepernick’s legal rights.
The Roc Nation Response
Roc Nation has previously denied similar allegations from Minaj, calling them “baseless and defamatory.” While they have not publicly addressed Nessa’s new video, their legal team is reportedly monitoring the situation. Desiree Perez, in particular, has become a lightning rod for controversy, with her past involvement as a cooperating witness in federal drug cases resurfacing online amid these accusations.
Now, Perez has two prominent women in the industry speaking out against her. Nessa, through her radio and on-camera work at Hot 97 is one of the industry’s most-recognized media personalities. Meanwhile, Nicki Minaj is one of the biggest rappers in the history of hip-hop. In addition, her Barbz fan base is one of the most loyal and intense fan bases in history.
Final Word: Are We Seeing a Crack in the Industry’s Image Control?
Whether or not one agrees with Nessa Diab or Nicki Minaj, their statements point to a larger reckoning happening within entertainment and sports. What began as separate outcries—one about racial injustice in football, the other about manipulation in music—now appear to be linked by allegations of power consolidation, retaliation, and systemic image management.
With Kaepernick’s documentary on the horizon and Minaj teasing a legal battle of her own, the next chapter in this saga may unfold not in boardrooms or studio sessions, but in the court of public opinion—and possibly a court of law.
One thing has become clear, Nessa is not backing down from her accusations against Roc Nation.