New York, NY – And just like that, with JAY-Z and Roc Nation’s announcement the first event in connection with their partnership with the NFL, Twitter is up in arms about it.
On Thursday (August 29), the NFL and Roc Nation announced the Inspire Change Apparel and Songs The Season initiatives through their Inspire Change social justice platform.
The announcement also revealed the Inspire Change Advocates, Meek Mill, Meghan Trainor and Rapsody, will perform at a free concert during the NFL Kickf Experience presented by EA Sports Madden NFL 20 on September 5 in Chicago at Grant Park.
Backlash exploded on Twitter as it appears many are upset Meghan Trainor will be representing Roc Nation and the NFL as an Inspire Change advocate.
Opinions on the online platform ranged in tone from accusatory claims the rap billionaire had sold out his community, to general remorse and or disdain for Trainor, widely known for her host role on the TV show The Four.
Jay-Z is the most successful man in the history hip hop. His wife is the biggest star in the world. So he joins up with the biggest sports league in America to “fight for social justice” and what do we get?
Meek Mill and Meghan Trainor.
It’s like the NFL is trolling us. https://t.co/KGT8jMWJrD
— michaelharriot (@michaelharriot) August 30, 2019
And there it is….Jay Z at work:
NFL to Launch Inspire Change Apparel and Songs the Season Through Its Social Justice Platform Inspire ChangeMeek Mill, Meghan Trainor and Rapsody Named Inspire Change Advocates pic.twitter.com/ewu01DCvri
— Clarence Hill Jr (@clarencehilljr) August 30, 2019
It was only a matter time the NFL would decide to monetize social justice through T-shirts and Meghan Trainor songs. White people did it with the blues, they did it with Jazz, they did it with rap, and now they’re doing it with outrage over black males murdered by the police.
— Eugene Gu, MD (@eugenegu) August 30, 2019
One user theorized the move was part a larger agenda for the NFL.
I get why the NFL wants Meghan Trainor as a part their “social justice” OPTICS:
1. She’s white
2. She’s a woman
3. She can perform her song “Me Too”She dislodges the “Social Justice” initiative from being a ”Black thing,” and makes it seem like the NFL cares about women. pic.twitter.com/KnQwGMJ24T
— L E F T, PhD (@LeftSentThis) August 30, 2019
Some even joked about the matter, with one user remarking, “JAY-Z finally turned heel on black folks.”
Jay-Z has finally turned heel on black folks #meghantrainor #rocnation #nfl #JayZCivilRightsSongs #jayz #hov #meekmill pic.twitter.com/gnyUbMY5VP
— #Cena2024 ???? (@VincesBoy) August 30, 2019
Another user found comical light in the situation in a series tweets that undermine Trainor, Colin Kaepernick and more.
Police: *killing yet another unarmed Black man on camera and getting away with it.*
Me watching at home: "WHERE IS MEGHAN TRAINOR? SOMEONE PLEASE FIND MEGHAN SO I CAN MAKE SENSE OF ALL OF THIS!" pic.twitter.com/vBD4NVC6Ak
— Suge Light (@WHUTUPDOE) August 30, 2019
Kaep kneeled so Meghan Trainor could run.
— Suge Light (@WHUTUPDOE) August 30, 2019
Meghan Trainor and Meek Mill performances and hoodies. Mmm… pic.twitter.com/st5jn9k5hw
— Kirk Moore (@KirkWrites79) August 30, 2019
Jay-Z stans just gonna have to hold this fatass L. Dumbasses! Meghan Trainor and merch like a struggling hood rapper pic.twitter.com/VSu5JBaG6S
— Broqué not Broke (@Atuya254) August 30, 2019
Like I been asking. What can a Jay+NFL partnership achieve that neither party couldnt achieve on its own? You combine a $15B corp& Jay's influence and a Meghan Trainor concert is what comes out it? It's all a PR move to remedy how uncomfortable the Kap discussion made NFL fans
— Beyonce has an uncle named Larry Beyince. Bruh…. (@DragonflyJonez) August 30, 2019
The fact that Jay Z really said we're past kneeling and is promoting shirts for Meghan Trainor… pic.twitter.com/e2OX9AuvC5
— ???????????? ??????? (@upthetwerx) August 30, 2019
Jay-Z, Meghan Trainor, Dior, Funimation and Johnny Depp all wildin' today pic.twitter.com/NWo7YC2Eys
— The big chillin’ (@Kie) August 30, 2019
Colin Kaepernick walked so Jay Z could fly into an NFL agreement whereby we stop kneeling and instead listen to Meghan Trainor because this is chess and not checkers.
— Preston Mitchum (@PrestonMitchum) August 30, 2019
Jay-Z said to get up f your knees so you can dance to Meghan Trainor in the name social justice.
— Brian Thee Aspie (@PressorBLove) August 30, 2019
Meghan Trainor’s biopic “Birth a Nation” will star Scarlett Johansson
— George M Johnson (@IamGMJohnson) August 30, 2019
“I freed a thousand slaves. I could have freed a thousand more if only they knew they were slaves.” – Meghan Trainor
— David Dennis Jr. (@DavidDTSS) August 30, 2019
“I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro's great stumbling block in the stride toward freedom is not the White Citizen's Council-er or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate who is more devoted to "order" than to justice….” -Meghan Trainor https://t.co/GI63ZQhiVl
— Phillip Henry (@MajorPhilebrity) August 30, 2019
meghan trainor aka the bitch who made a song about how she wants to serve her husband and looks fresh out the 1950s is gonna teach us about change and ending racism? pic.twitter.com/GtpcYXMOkD
— shantell ? (@beforemoonlight) August 30, 2019
Shirts and a Meghan Trainor concert I'm fuckin sweating
— Craig Bro Dude (@CraigSJ) August 30, 2019
Hov really telling us Meghan Trainor songs more effective than Kap kneeling pic.twitter.com/CjvBAdm6sP
— Trey (@TreyAdell) August 30, 2019
HOV has already received a significant amount commentary about his deal with the NFL by way support and backlash from prominent figures in Hip Hop like Killer Mike and Irv Gotti.
Watch the video about JAY-Z, Colin Kapernick and the NFL below for even more insight on the matter.