How Jay-Z’s legal troubles could impact the Super Bowl halftime show

The glee 50 Cent displays on social media implies a concern – imagined or expected – that media attention surrounding the allegations could spill over into Roc Nation’s successful partnership with the National Football League. Jay-Z, who serves as executive producer of the Super Bowl halftime show, and his company transformed the big game’s musical interlude from a 2020 rock and country affair to a diverse range of current artists. In 2023, the collaboration with Apple took place, and production was increased even further, resulting in record audiences for the recent performances with Usher (2024) and Rihanna (2023).

The price for these stadium-sized performances is, of course, many millions of dollars – and that’s if the featured artist performs for free. The advertising revenue for the 12- to 15-minute halftime show alone could reach eight figures. A guiding principle for an organization like the NFL and its broadcast partner, then, is to avoid controversy, especially in the wake of Janet Jackson’s “wardrobe malfunction.” “Fiasco.

So how might Jay-Z, the company, and Shawn Carter, the man, impact Super Bowl LIX, which takes place on February 9th in New Orleans, with Kendrick Lamar officiating at halftime? A response to the civil lawsuit posted on Roc Nation’s Although the statement, written from a father’s perspective and with uncompromising conviction in Hov’s voice, received praise for its construction.

It claims that attorney Tony Buzbee, who represents the woman, Jane Doe, tried to blackmail the rap mogul by filing a lawsuit over such a “heinous” crime. “What he had calculated was the nature of these allegations and public scrutiny would lead me to agree,” the page-long post said. “No sir, it had the opposite effect! It made me want to VERY publicly expose you for the fraud you are perpetrating. So no, I am NOT giving you a RED PENNY!! These allegations are so heinous that I am asking you to file a criminal complaint, not a civil complaint!! Anyone (sic) who would commit such a crime against a minor should be locked away, wouldn’t you agree? These alleged victims would deserve real justice in this case.”

Why Carter posted the unsigned note to Roc Nation’s X account rather than his own X account is unclear; While Carter’s X account has been relatively inactive since 2018, it is still alive and has 2.9 million followers (THR I reached out to the rapper’s rep and Roc Nation for comment but did not receive a response. But the fact that the rap mogul’s response was delivered via Roc Nation is why the Super Bowl deal could come into play – under other circumstances, Apple, the NFL and Fox wouldn’t be trying to get away with a business partner to distance someone who is accused of an unforgivable sexual harassment attack?

In response to the filing, Carter said through his attorney Alex Spiro (who represented Alec Baldwin in the lawsuit). rust (The case was temporarily dismissed) has asked the accuser to disclose her identity, as is typical in a civil case brought in federal court. A criminal lawsuit cannot be filed in New York because of the statute of limitations on her age and the date of the alleged incident.

Carter is already suing Buzbee, filing a lawsuit after receiving a letter from him that was interpreted as an extortion attempt. An attorney representing Carter also wrote a follow-up message formally denying the rape allegation: “For the avoidance of doubt, Mr. Carter is completely innocent. This is a shakedown. He is not mentioned, referred to or implicated in any way in the criminal investigation against Mr. Combs. He is neither a target nor a person of interest in this investigation,” it said.

If his defense in the civil case is successful, Carter could then claim tortious interference, where a third party intervenes in a business contract or relationship, causing financial harm.

Buzbee has his own take on the road to legal chaos, writing on Instagram that there was a “coordinated and aggressive action” against him, which included “filing frivolous lawsuits against me and my law firm and making outrageous allegations against everyone.” “I will listen and have mysterious people following me and my family.” Buzbee added: “People will see through this attempt to discredit me and my customers and the truth will come out “I won’t let anyone silence my clients either.” THR contacted Buzbee through his law firm on Tuesday but did not immediately receive a response.

While this is all playing out in court, people are talking. One So no Kendrick Super Bowl.”

Roc Nation and the NFL initially signed a five-year contract in 2019; The contract was extended in October. Carter’s company was the NFL’s Live Music Entertainment Strategist as part of the NFL’s Inspire Change Initiative. After the contract extension, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said that working with Roc Nation was “positive for both sides.”

Whether the NFL will take action to distance itself from Jay-Z during its biggest and most lucrative game of the year remains to be seen. THR reached out to a league representative on Tuesday to inquire about possible changes to the upcoming Super Bowl halftime show but did not immediately receive a response.

Meanwhile, 50 Cent continues to speak out about the unfolding drama, appearing in an interview on BigBoy TV on Monday where he expressed some sympathy for Carter and his family.

“They’re going to fall behind…the NFL, they’re not necessarily associated with it,” Jackson said. “I just hope he’s okay inside, at the crib. It’s not what you did. It’s what they said you did. The damage is done by the accusation itself.”