Jay Z dedicated a song to free agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick at a New York concert. (Zachary Mazur/FilmMagic)
A firm answer on whether or not Jay-Z will be performing his biggest hits during the Super Bowl halftime show next year isn’t in the cards. The NFL, which is usually mum on who will take the stage during football’s biggest night, shot down reports that Jay declined the invite.
“No decisions have been made on the performer(s) and we are not going to speculate on particular artists,” the league told Complex in a Wednesday, Sept. 20 statement. “Along with Pepsi, we know that we will put on a spectacular show. When it is time to announce her name we will do it. Or his name. Or their names.”
A source close to Jay told The Sun that it’s “simply not the case” that he’ll follow in the footsteps of wife Beyoncé by performing at the Super Bowl.
“He has enough songs to create an incredible performance but he really has no plans to do the halftime show,” said an insider.
The Source magazine speculated his decision could be in support of Colin Kaepernick and Ezekiel Elliot, the former of whom took a knee last season to protest Black oppression. Jay dedicated a song to the free agent quarterback at a recent New York City concert.
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If the “Moonlight” rapper really isn’t a contender for the 2018 show, it’s not like he’d be missing out on any money. Pepsi executive Justin Toman told Variety “no money is exchanged.” Instead, “finding the mutual, shared win is the goal.”
No payment is one of the reasons why singer Kelly Clarkson, who is gearing up to release a new album in November, would never perform at one.
“No, you have to pay to do it! I’m not paying, you pay me,” she told “The Kane Show” Thursday, Sept. 14. “I heard that and I’m like, ‘Wait … I’ve been doing this too long y’all. I ain’t paying people.'”
The pay-to-play setup doesn’t seem to exist anymore, according to Forbes. But if a lack of mula hasn’t stopped Queen Bey from performing, why should it stop anyone else?
