The NFL Jay-Z

Photo Credit: The Caesars Superdome in New Orleans by Matt Davey

The NFL commissioner says the organization stands by Jay-Z despite ongoing litigation and rape allegations against him.

The legal duel between Jay-Z and attorney Tony Buzbee won’t impact the former’s relationship with the NFL, says NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. Jay-Z’s company Roc Nation has produced some of the NFL’s entertainment presentations, including the Super Bowl Halftime Show.

“We’re aware of the civil allegations and Jay-Z’s really strong response to that,” said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on Wednesday, after the league’s winter meetings. “We know the litigation is happening now. From our standpoint, our relationship is not changing with them, including our preparations for the next Super Bowl.”

Tony Buzbee is representing over 200 clients who allege they were sexually assaulted by Sean “Diddy” Combs — including a woman who says she was raped by Combs at an awards show afterparty in 2000 when she was just 13 years old. The woman recently amended her lawsuit to include allegations that Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, was also at that party and participated in her sexual assault.

Carter has been very outspoken regarding the allegations, saying the lawsuit is part of an extortion scheme against him orchestrated by Buzbee. He called the allegations “heinous in nature” and has filed a countersuit against Buzbee, as well as a motion calling for the anonymous woman to reveal her identity in order to move forward with litigation.

The NFL has been working with Carter’s Roc Nation since 2019 for events and social activism, and recently extended their partnership. Roc Nation is producing the upcoming Super Bowl Halftime Show alongside Jesse Collins. Kendrick Lamar will play the halftime show, which takes place at The Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on February 9.

“I think they’re getting incredibly comfortable […] not just with the Super Bowl, but other events they’ve advised us on and helped us with,” said Goodell of the league’s relationship with Roc Nation. “They’ve been a big help in the social justice area to us on many occasions. They’ve been great partners.”

Beyoncé, who is Jay-Z’s wife and a native of Houston, will perform at halftime at the Baltimore Ravens-Houston Texans game on Christmas.