Radio host and activist Nessa Diab is making it clear that personal feelings won’t get in the way of her professionalism when it comes to playing music — even when it involves Jay-Z. On a recent broadcast, Diab, who is also Colin Kaepernick’s longtime partner, addressed the ongoing tension surrounding Jay-Z’s 2019 deal with the NFL and its impact on Kaepernick’s career.
“Yes, I might not like what Jay-Z did,” she said candidly. “But guess what I don’t do? Go out of my way to not play his songs on my show. No, I’m not spiteful. I don’t try to harm people. I don’t do smear campaigns behind the scenes.” Despite criticizing Jay-Z’s involvement with the league at the height of Kaepernick’s dispute with the NFL, she emphasized that his artistry still deserves respect, calling him “one of the best to do what he does.”
The controversy dates back to Jay-Z’s partnership with the NFL on social justice initiatives and halftime shows, which many — including Nessa — felt undermined Kaepernick’s efforts to hold the league accountable after he was effectively blackballed for kneeling during the national anthem. “What he did to Colin was absolutely wrong. Selfish,” she stated.
Diab also addressed criticism over Kaepernick’s lawsuit settlement with the league. She pushed back against those who questioned the money involved, arguing that no one should be expected to work for a year and not be paid. “Did they expect to be fired ‘cause they wanted their money that they worked for?” she asked pointedly. Her comments reflect ongoing frustrations with the way the public, and even allies, have responded to Kaepernick’s treatment — while also showing that Diab is choosing to separate the art from the artist.
Source: YouTube
