NFL commissioner breaks silence on Jay-Z rape allegations after calls for rapper to lose Super Bowl deal

Jay-Z’s company Roc Nation choreographs the Super Bowl halftime show, and with its owner now facing rape allegations, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has broken his silence on the matter.

Earlier this week it emerged that a civil lawsuit which originally named Diddy, real name Sean Combs, had been amended to include Jay-Z too. It accuses the pair of raping a 13-year-old girl in 2000.

Diddy was indicted by a grand jury following his arrest at the Park Hyatt hotel in Manhattan back in September – and remains locked up in a cell in New York, awaiting a trial due to take place on May 5.

He has since been charged with racketeering and sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion – charges he’s continued to deny.

Now, Goodell has spoken out for the first time on whether the NFL will cut ties with Jay-Z.

NFL commissioner breaks silence on Jay-Z rape allegations after calls for rapper to lose Super Bowl deal
Updated 07:55 12 Dec 2024 GMT
Published 07:30 12 Dec 2024 GMT
NFL commissioner breaks silence on Jay-Z rape allegations after calls for rapper to lose Super Bowl deal
The NFL has spoken out as Roc Nation owner Jay-Z faces a civil case following claims that he raped a 13-year-old
Joe Yates
Joe Yates

Jay-Z’s company Roc Nation choreographs the Super Bowl halftime show, and with its owner now facing rape allegations, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has broken his silence on the matter.

Earlier this week it emerged that a civil lawsuit which originally named Diddy, real name Sean Combs, had been amended to include Jay-Z too. It accuses the pair of raping a 13-year-old girl in 2000.

Jay-Z has spoke publicly denying the ‘false and heinous’ claims.

Roger Goodell has broken his silence on the rape allegations Jay-Z is facing (Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
Roger Goodell has broken his silence on the rape allegations Jay-Z is facing (Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

Diddy was indicted by a grand jury following his arrest at the Park Hyatt hotel in Manhattan back in September – and remains locked up in a cell in New York, awaiting a trial due to take place on May 5.

He has since been charged with racketeering and sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion – charges he’s continued to deny.

Now, Goodell has spoken out for the first time on whether the NFL will cut ties with Jay-Z.

Jay-Z and Diddy pictured together back in the year 2000 (Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)
Jay-Z and Diddy pictured together back in the year 2000 (Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)
He said during a press conference: “We’re aware of the civil allegations and Jay-Z’s really strong response to that and we know obviously litigation’s happening now but from our standpoint our relationship’s not changing with them including our preparation for the next Super Bowl.”

As for Jay-Z, he published a lengthy statement on Twitter through Roc Nation.

An extract from it read: “These allegations are so heinous in nature that I implore you to file a criminal complaint, not a civil one!!”

The rapper went on to explain how damaging these claims are to his status as well as to his family, with one of his daughters old enough that her friends will read the news and see the allegations against him.

“My lawyer received a blackmail attempt, called a demand letter, from a ‘lawyer’ named Tony Buzbee,” he wrote.

“What he had calculated was the nature of these allegations and the public scrutiny would make me want to settle.

“No sir, it had the opposite effect! It made me want to expose you for the fraud you are in a VERY public fashion. So no, I will not give you ONE RED PENNY!!”

Buzbee himself has also responded on Twitter, explaining that his client didn’t ask for money.

His statement concludes: “As far as the allegations in the complaint filed, we will let the filing speak for itself and will litigate the facts in court, not in the media.”