Nessa Diab Accuses Jay Z, Roc Nation, and Desiree Perez of “Smear Campaign Tactics” Against Nicki Minaj and Colin Kaepernick

Nessa Diab, longtime media personality and partner of former NFL quarterback and civil rights icon Colin Kaepernick, has come out swinging alleging that Jay Z, Roc Nation, and CEO Desiree Perez orchestrated what she calls “smear campaign tactics” not only against her partner, but now against global rap superstar Nicki Minaj.

Diab drew parallels between the treatment of Minaj and Kaepernick, accusing the powerful entertainment agency of strategically co-opting movements and silencing dissent, all while collecting millions from institutions seeking public redemption.

“Smear Tactics” in the Spotlight

“@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,” Diab wrote on Twitter, igniting immediate speculation and outrage online. “When Jay purposely co-opted Colin’s protest by siding with the NFL to help ‘their image’ after they blackballed Colin for his protest.”

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Diab’s accusations come just days after Nicki Minaj publicly hinted at alleged backdoor sabotage in the entertainment industry. While Minaj has yet to name Roc Nation directly in her current statements, Diab’s tweets explicitly made the connection, aligning both stars’ experiences as part of a larger pattern of corporate manipulation, reputation damage, and institutional protectionism.

The NFL Deal: Allegations of Payoffs and Image Laundering

Perhaps the most explosive claim Nessa made was financial. According to her, Roc Nation allegedly took5 million dollars a yearfor five consecutive years, totaling25 million dollars, from the NFL in what she says was a clear attempt to “bury the growing protest.”

“Roc Nation apparently took 5 million a year over 5 years to bury the growing protest,” she tweeted. “AND specifically help them ‘move beyond the controversy around teams’ unwillingness to sign Kaepernick.’”

She then invoked a now infamous quote by Roc Nation CEO Desiree Perez, who once told reporters,“We love that everybody wants to be on the stage, that we’ve completely changed the conversation to fighting for it versus boycotting.”

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Nessa contextualized that quote as evidence of a deliberate pivot away from the protest movement’s original intention, challenging systemic racial injustice and police brutality, and toward corporate sponsored “unity” initiatives. In her view, Roc Nation’s involvement sanitized the NFL’s image without securing any real justice or reinstatement for Kaepernick.

Desiree Perez and Trump’s Pardon

Nessa didn’t stop at the NFL deal. She linked Perez directly to former President Donald Trump, referencing her controversial federal pardon in 2021. “She got her pardon by Trump, no coincidence the NFL owners are his buddies and also donated millions to his campaign,” Diab tweeted.

Perez, a high ranking executive in the music industry, was pardoned by Trump in one of his final acts in office, for a decades old drug conspiracy conviction. Though many celebrated the move at the time, critics like Nessa have long questioned the deeper relationships between Trump era influence networks, corporate music elites, and billion dollar sports leagues.

Private Agreement, Public Silence

“I called them all out YEARS ago,” Diab added in a follow up tweet, “and so many people were scared to say it publicly, but would tell me how they agreed with me privately. Smh.”

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This is not the first time Nessa has challenged Jay Z and his business dealings with the NFL. In 2019, shortly after Roc Nation entered into its high profile “Inspire Change” partnership with the league, Nessa publicly rebuked the move as an opportunistic betrayal.

At the time, Jay Z famously told reporters,“I think we’ve moved past kneeling.”The quote sparked immediate backlash from activists who saw it as dismissive of the protest that had defined Kaepernick’s career and exile.

A Call to #StillWithKap

Despite the passage of time, Nessa made clear she has not softened her stance.

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

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The hashtag #StillWithKap began trending again shortly after her tweets, along with renewed calls from supporters demanding accountability from Roc Nation and the NFL over how Kaepernick’s protest was handled and allegedly monetized.

Neither Jay Z, Roc Nation, nor Desiree Perez have issued a public response to Nessa’s accusations at this time.

The post Nessa Diab Accuses Jay Z, Roc Nation, and Desiree Perez of “Smear Campaign Tactics” Against Nicki Minaj and Colin Kaepernick appeared first on Where Is The Buzz | Breaking News, Entertainment, Exclusive Interviews & More.