Nessa Diab claims Roc Nation used NFL deal to suppress Kaepernick, target Nicki Minaj [PHOTO]

Allegations Resurface Claims of $5M Payments to Suppress Kaepernick Movement

In a bold and highly viral statement posted to X (formerly Twitter), radio host and activist Nessa Diab, the longtime partner of Colin Kaepernick, accused Roc Nation, Jay-Z, and CEO Desiree Perez of employing coordinated “smear tactics” against rapper Nicki Minaj. According to Diab, the tactics mirror those allegedly used to co-opt and suppress Kaepernick’s protest movement during his high-profile standoff with the NFL.

“@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.”

Nessa is making some very serious allegations against Roc Nation. So, she clearly is anticipating significant reactions.

The Financial Allegation: $5 Million Per Year

The post further alleges that Roc Nation accepted approximately $5 million per year over five years from the NFL as part of a broader campaign to rehabilitate the league’s public image. This figure aligns with previous reports from 2019. That’s when the NFL and Roc Nation entered a formal partnership to oversee the Super Bowl halftime shows. Also, to contribute to the league’s Inspire Change social justice initiative.

Although public documents confirm the total value of the deal at roughly $25 million over five years, there is no direct evidence supporting Diab’s claim that the funds were explicitly meant to “bury” Kaepernick’s protest movement. The NFL-Roc Nation partnership was originally pitched as a dual-purpose initiative. One was to amplify live music. In addition, promote social reform within the league’s reach.

However, Nessa feels there is nothing much done in the way of reform. As a result, she’s speaking out.

Reigniting the Jay-Z and Kaepernick Fallout

Diab’s latest commentary revives longstanding criticism of Jay-Z’s famous 2019 statement, “I think we’ve moved past kneeling,” which many activists interpreted as a dismissal of Kaepernick’s stance. That year, Roc Nation entered into an exclusive deal with the NFL, drawing backlash from supporters of the quarterback who accused Jay-Z of using the movement for corporate leverage.

Colin Kaepernick, whose 2016 kneeling protest against police brutality triggered a nationwide cultural and political conversation, never returned to the NFL. While he settled a collusion grievance with the league in 2019, the terms remain undisclosed. Jay-Z later arranged a private workout for Kaepernick, but no teams offered him a contract.

Diab stated:

“I still don’t watch that league or whoever is performing at whatever game they have playing. #stillwithkap #FOREVER”

The Nicki Minaj Connection

Nessa Diab drew parallels between what she described as “smear campaigns” used to suppress both Kaepernick and Nicki Minaj. The rapper has been locked in a fiery, public feud with Roc Nation. Thus, accusing the company and its CEO, Desiree Perez, of intentionally blocking career opportunities. This includes exclusion from Super Bowl halftime considerations. Meanwhile, also running covert campaigns to damage her brand.

Minaj’s accusations gained traction after a July 8, 2025, social media tirade. There, she alleged financial disputes, corporate sabotage, and gatekeeping from Roc Nation. Minaj also called into question Perez’s Trump-era pardon, suggesting political ties between Roc Nation, Trump-aligned NFL ownership, and the broader entertainment-industrial complex.

Desiree Perez: A Figure of Controversy

Desiree Perez, CEO of Roc Nation, is a central figure in both Diab and Minaj’s accusations. Perez was once convicted of drug-related crimes in the 1990s. However, she received a full presidential pardon from Donald Trump in January 2021. Diab’s post suggested that this pardon and Roc Nation’s NFL affiliations are interconnected. Therefore, pointing out that several NFL owners are known Trump donors.

Perez has been quoted in media coverage of the NFL-Roc Nation partnership as saying:

“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.”

This quote, used by Diab to frame Roc Nation as co-opting activism, is seen by critics as evidence of a pivot away from protest and toward commercial integration.

Social Media Reactions

Diab’s post has received over 725,000 views, 2,500 reposts, and 12,700 likes. Reaction to the post is deeply polarized. Among Minaj supporters, the statement is being hailed as a brave truth-telling moment that confirms long-held suspicions of corporate sabotage.

@statsofminaj wrote: “Nicki never lies. Now y’all starting to see what she’s been up against.”

@therealdtiny added: “Jay-Z and Desiree Perez are demons in human clothing.”

Others, however, view the claims as unfounded and possibly defamatory:

@DocMartian85 warned: “This borderline defamation. Them lawsuits will get to flying QUICK.”

Jay-Z and Roc Nation have not responded to the claims publicly. Roc Nation’s recent social media posts continue to focus on artist promotions and event coverage.

Legal and Cultural Implications

No legal documents or verified reports have emerged supporting claims of active smear campaigns against either Kaepernick or Minaj. However, the cultural implications are significant. The suggestion that a social justice initiative like Inspire Change was monetized at the expense of real activism highlights ongoing tensions between corporate interests and grassroots movements.

A 2020 study in the American Sociological Review found that 60% of NFL fans initially supported Kaepernick’s protest. Yet by 2019, fan support had splintered, partly due to how media and league narratives evolved. Critics argue that Roc Nation helped reshape this narrative to shift public discourse away from kneeling protests and toward NFL-led branding.

Final Thoughts

Nessa Diab’s allegations—whether viewed as revelatory or incendiary—have reignited debate over the NFL, Jay-Z, and the role of entertainment executives in shaping public activism. Her alignment with Nicki Minaj strengthens a cross-industry critique of how power is leveraged, who it silences, and what it ultimately serves.

While factual questions about the intent behind the Roc Nation-NFL deal remain unanswered, the controversy underscores a truth few deny: when money, politics, and protest collide, transparency is often the first casualty.

However, Nessa has opened up a serious discussion about power within the entertainment and sports industries.