Music mogul Jay-Z founded Roc Nation in 2008, and the entertainment company has handled the production of the Super Bowl halftime show for the past several years. However, a recent rape allegation has been brought against the rapper and businessman.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has downplayed the situation, stating that the league’s relationship with Jay-Z’s company, Roc Nation, is unaffected. “We’re aware of the civil allegations and Jay-Z’s really strong response to that,” Goodell said. “We know the litigation is happening now. From our standpoint, our relationship is not changing with them, including our preparations for the next Super Bowl.”
The allegations stem from a 2000 incident in which a woman claims she was sexually assaulted at an awards show after-party, where Jay-Z and other celebrities were in attendance. The woman has also accused Jay-Z of participating in an illegal sexual act and has amended her lawsuit to include new allegations.
Jay-Z has denied the allegations, calling them “idiotic” and “heinous in nature.” He claims that the allegations are part of an extortion attempt. Roc Nation, one of his companies, released a statement on his behalf, in which he condemned the accusations as “unfounded” and “baseless.”
Despite the allegations, Goodell praised Jay-Z and Roc Nation, stating that the league and the entertainment company have been great partners in the area of social justice. Jay-Z’s wife, Beyoncé, will perform at the Christmas Day game between the Ravens and Texans in Houston. Roc Nation and Emmy-winning producer Jesse Collins will co-produce the Super Bowl halftime show featuring Kendrick Lamar.
