Stay Connected
Atlanta Black Star/Entertainment
Entertainment

Jermaine Dupri Responds To Being Called a Sellout for Working With the Super Bowl and NFL

Posted byBy Daryl Nelson | Published on: CommentsComments (0)

Jermaine Dupri told Black folks to stop coming at him for being involved with Super Bowl LIII.

Of course, the NFL has come under fire from many quarters in the Black community since it appears Colin Kaepernick has been blackballed from the league for kneeling during pregame performances of the national anthem two seasons ago.

And it seems many of the team owners have sided with Donald Trump, who’s been extremely critical of Kap and others who’ve protested.

Jermaine Dupri said he's not disrespecting Black folks by involving himself with the Super Bowl.

Instagram

But regardless, Dupri said he doesn’t want to be made a scapegoat for people’s issues with the league, which he conveyed on Instagram.

“Ok, let’s get this straight,” he wrote, “all y’all hitting me talking bout I’m disrespecting the black race by being involve with activities during super bowl need to include all your other favorite artist as well, because every club has a artist,every corporate party has a artist.”

Dupri’s message sparked a number of comments about whether it’s right for him to be involved with the NFL or not.

“Respectfully, you’re weak for doing the show,” someone wrote.

“JD, those of us who live here in Atlanta know what you’ve done and what you mean to the city,” another person wrote. “You my friend have earned the respect and the right to where you don’t have to explain anything that you do.”

In October it was announced that Dupri was tapped to produce a series of concerts for the Super Bowl titled “Welcome to Atlanta.” And slightly before that, the 46-year-old said he wouldn’t be boycotting the game or any of its festivities because he feels it won’t help Black folks in any way.

So far, celebrities like Jay-Z and Rihanna have reportedly turned down offers to do the Super Bowl halftime show because of Kaepernick’s poor treatment.

Still independent.

We hope this story was worth your time. For over 14 years, Atlanta Black Star has stayed Black-owned and independently run. We didn't get here by waiting on ad budgets that were never built to prioritize us. Our readers did that.

Corporate support for Black media has always been thin. Outlets like ours get roughly 1% of the $170 billion spent on U.S. advertising each year, and that margin is shrinking further as advertisers walk back the DEI-linked commitments they made in 2020. That's the backdrop. It's not why we're asking.

The wider picture isn't any steadier. Newspaper ad revenue has fallen more than 80% since 2005, and local newsrooms are closing at a rate of roughly two a week nationwide. When outlets go under, it's rarely the ones built to center a Black perspective from the ground up that get to stick around.

We know a request for support isn't why you came here. But without readers choosing to fund this work directly, the depth of reporting we can do at home and abroad shrinks along with everyone else's. If you're not in a position to give, that doesn't change how much we value you as a reader.

If you are able to, a recurring contribution does more for us than a single one-time gift, because it lets us plan the next investigation instead of just the next invoice. It takes about 30 seconds, no long form, no account. Thank you for continuing to support independent journalism and freedom of the press.

Give once Give monthly Support another way

Related Stories

Back to top