They say that actions speak louder than words, and that certainly seems to be something Jay-Z believes in. While 'Hov' is more famous for being a wordsmith and the most successful rapper of all time, it was his clothing that set chins wagging on Saturday night, rather than his lyrics. The rapper recently appeared on the 43rd premiere of Saturday Night Live and it is fair to say that his choice of attire has spoken volumes, sending a clear message to plenty of people around the world, particularly to those in America. The kickoff episode, which was hosted by everyone's favourite hunk, Ryan Gosling, saw the rapper perform two songs off of his latest album, 4:44, and wearing a "Colin K" NFL jersey throughout the performance. Jay's choice of attire was a clear message of support for the much maligned NFL player, Colin Kaepernick, and also to all the other players who are currently protesting police brutality and racial injustice across America by refusing to stand for the national anthem. The performance began with Jay-Z performing his song Bam, alongside Damian Marley, which was performed in front of a waving Ethiopian flag and camouflage backdrop. However, the performance became particularly noteworthy when Jay-Z turned around to reveal the number seven jersey (Kaepernick's number when he was at the San Francisco 49ers) with "Colin K" on the back of it. Unsurprisingly, it caused quite a stir on social media, with plenty of fans jumping onto Twitter to show their support with the protest, and praising Jay-Z for taking the stance he did. [[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/yoyotrav/status/914342202217828352]] [[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/KyleAMadson/status/914341330364522496]] [[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/Biggirlslay/status/914341301738524672]] [[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/mrdynomyte/status/914341347406045184]] [[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/yoyotrav/status/914340642289045504]] For those of you who are unaware, Colin Kaepernick made headlines last year when he refused to stand for the American national anthem during a preseason game last year. Kaepernick said that he couldn't stand for, and respect, a country where black people are still being oppressed and are on the receiving end of police brutality. Perhaps due to his actions, Kaepernick parted ways with the 49ers in March 2017 and is still yet to be signed by another team, despite his obvious talent. Kaepernick's actions have inspired dozens of other NFL players to protest during the national anthem, and plenty of them have followed suit. The protests now involve kneeling throughout the duration of the song, locking arms, or remaining in the locker room until it is over. Not one to stay silent on mainstream news, Donald Trump weighed into the debate and unsurprisingly made everything a whole lot worse. Trump said that NFL coaches should fire anyone who doesn't stand and respect the national anthem, and branded any player who joins in with the protest as a "son of a b***h". It's being reported that Jay-Z has refused to perform at the Superbowl, in a show of solidarity with Kaepernick, despite it being a coveted spot for most performers. He also dedicated his song, The Story of O.J, to the player, during a recent performance in New York, saying: "I want to dedicate this song to Colin Kaepernick tonight. I want to dedicate this song to Dick Gregory… "I want to dedicate this song to anybody that was held back and you overcame whatever it was." Fair play to Jay-Z for showing solidarity with Kaepernick while he is currently going through a very difficult period. At the end of the day, Kaepernick and the other players who have protested alongside him, haven't actually done anything wrong: the protest has been peaceful, respectful and hasn't harmed anyone.

Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick appears to have called out rapper Jay-Z, referencing a statement in which the artist declared that “we’ve moved past kneeling” when it comes to NFL player protests during the national anthem. The move follows a controversial move from Jay-Z, where his entertainment and sports company Roc Nation announced a partnership with the NFL, to a decidedly mixed response. 

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/CrainsNewYork/status/1163473469356630016]]

Last week at a joint news conference with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, Jay-Z told reporters that “I think we’ve moved past kneeling and I think it’s time to go into actionable items.” The comments were made in reference to his new collaboration involving music and social activism. 

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/MrErnestOwens/status/1161392218193592320]]

After this statement caused a stir on social media, however, Kaepernick appeared to issue his own response.

Colin Kaepernick says he's been 'denied work for 889 days' and still wants to play in the NFL:

[[jwplayerwidget||https://content.jwplatform.com/videos/gJU16wOm-dkXnENEs.mp4||gJU16wOm]]

Seeming to echo Jay-Z’s choice of language, Kaepernick tweeted, “My Brothers @E_Reid35 @KSTiLLS @iThinkIsee12 continue to fight for the people, even in the face of death threats. They have never moved past the people and continue to put their beliefs into action,” in reference to the continued protests of fellow pros Eric Reid, Kenny Stills and Albert Wilson.

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/Kaepernick7/status/1163145201852006401]]

While Kaepernick himself has so far avoided explicitly mentioning Jay-Z by name, Eric Reid was not so subtle. In a tweet sent last week, Reid attacked the rapper, writing, “Jay-Z knowingly made a money move with the very people who’ve committed an injustice against Colin and is using social justice to smooth it over with the black community.”

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/E_Reid35/status/1162141188662661120]]

This weekend, Reid took things further still, telling reporters, “When has Jay-Z ever taken a knee to tell us we’re past kneeling? Yes, he’s done a lot of great work. A lot of great social justice work. But for you to get paid to go into an NFL press conference and say that we’re past kneeling? Again, asinine.”

There has as yet been no formal response on the criticism from Jay-Z or Roc Nation.

Beyoncé and Jay-Z remained seated during the national anthem at the 2020 Super Bowl.

This form of protest against the racial discrimination of minority groups is  best associated with NFL player Colin Kaepernick. The quarterback made headlines around the world for repeatedly refusing to stand during the National Anthem.

In the video below, Obama Discusses Kaepernick's National Anthem protest: 

[[jwplayerwidget||https://content.jwplatform.com/videos/u5VHwVUQ-Q0L14jDU.mp4||u5VHwVUQ]]

Sung by Demi Lovato, the general consensus was that she knocked her rendition of the anthem out of the park. However, as per TMZ footage, Beyoncé, Jay-Z, and daughter Blue Ivy remained seated during the performance.

Watch the family remain seated during the National Anthem:

[[jwplayerwidget||https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cs2fUrZInQ4||f6pREXFE]]

However, it has been noted by People that the singer was at the "rockets' red glare" segment of the song, and therefore, the family's decision to remain seated could have been a simple case of them being slow to stand.

This seemingly political decision comes after Jay-Z, who co-produced the halftime show starring Shakira and Jennifer Lopez, revealed that his company Roc Nation was partnering with the NFL for events and social justice programs.

[[imagecaption|| Credit: PA Images]]

Jay-Z is reportedly in full support of Kaepernick, and is using his work with the NFL to make "substantial changes", as per People. However, critics argued that he was simply using Kaepernick's protest for his own personal gain.

One of the most scathing critiques of the family's apparent protests came on Twitter. It read: "When the anthem came on we stood up in silence till it was over...and we were at home on the couch keeping it simple. Beyoncé and Jay Z could have at least stood up while the anthem of the country that made them rich and famous played [sic]. Elitest leftist scumbags, all of them."

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/iheartmindy/status/1224157639895969792]]

In response to this criticism, one Twitter user wrote: "Y'all really more worried about Beyoncé and Jay Z sitting down for the National anthem instead of police brutality against black people. Really shows where y'all morals and values are on the scale."

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/kooksnigra/status/1224205572544831488]]

However, some did applaud the family for their apparent decision:

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/sensitivbitch/status/1224230755590705152]]

In 2016, NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick risked his job to start a movement. Before football games, he took a knee during the national anthem to protest racial inequality and police brutality. It was a peaceful way to protest the many shocking cases of white police officers killing unarmed black civilians. In many cases, these horrific acts were captured on video, and the officers were not prosecuted or convicted for excessive use of force.

This movement sparked anger from critics, who believe taking a knee during the national anthem somehow disrespects the American flag and insults the military. One of the loudest critics, President Donald Trump, referred to the protesters as "sons of bitches" and even called for them to be fired from the NFL. Evidently, the owners were listening. Since 2017, Kaepernick has been without a team, reportedly blackballed for having the audacity to participate in a peaceful protest.

[[instagramwidget||https://www.instagram.com/p/BnRoVQTlFK9/]]

This week Nike announced Kaepernick will become the face of their new advertising campaign. As you might expect, the critics were outraged, calling for a boycott and burning their Nike products in retaliation. It is unclear how burning expensive products you purchased is an effective protest, but hey, at least they remembered to take their shoes off first.

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/sclancy79/status/1036749717206691840]]

In an interview, President Trump said he disapproved of Nike's new campaign. "I think it’s a terrible message that they're sending and the purpose of them doing it, maybe there’s a reason for them doing it, but I think as far as sending a message, I think it’s a terrible message and a message that shouldn’t be sent. There’s no reason for it." (As previously stated, the "reason" is to protest racial inequality and police brutality.)

[[youtubewidget||https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fq2CvmgoO7I]]

Earlier today, Nike released a full commercial starring Colin Kaepernick that makes a powerful statement. The two-minute ad features professional athletes, like Serena Williams and LeBron James, plus inspiring amateur athletes, like a football-playing homecoming queen and an Ironman participant who recovered from a brain tumor. There is no footage of NFL players taking a knee, but many phrases allude to the protest.

"People say your dreams are crazy, if they laugh at what you think you can do, good. Stay that way. Because what non-believers fail to understand is that calling a dream crazy is not an insult, it’s a compliment...

"Don’t try to be the fastest runner in your school, or the fastest in the world. Be the fastest, ever... Don’t settle for homecoming queen or linebacker; do both. Lose 120 pounds and become an IronMan, after beating a brain tumor. Don’t believe you have to be like anybody to be somebody."

Kaepernick provides the narration, and appears on camera, saying, "Don't ask if your dreams are crazy. Ask if they're crazy enough." And it all ends with the words, "It's only crazy until you do it. Just do it." Well, Diddy hasn't hired Kaep yet, but at least he got a gig.

The commercial is reportedly scheduled to play during the NFL opener on Thursday night.

Back in 2016, NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick made headlines around the world for his method of protest against police brutality. Kaepernick refused to stand during the national anthem - choosing to kneel down instead - and this went on to spark a nationwide discussion on systematic racism and the most appropriate way in which to protest against it.

While many praised the quarterback for drawing attention to the plight that many people of colour in the US face, others criticised his method of protest, claiming it was anti-American. Some of these critics even went as far as to say that what he had done was an insult to his country, and the veterans who had served it.

In any case, Kaepernick opted out of his contract with the 49ers after the close of the 2016 season in order to become an unrestricted free agent. He had planned to find other roles within the NFL - but the offers never came.

In February 2019, he reached a settlement with the NFL in the collusion case he brought against them following his protest.

Last month, Kaepernick posted this video saying he's been 'denied work for 889 days' and is 'still ready' to play in the NFL:

[[jwplayerwidget||https://content.jwplatform.com/videos/gJU16wOm-dkXnENEs.mp4||gJU16wOm]]

In the last couple of years, Kaepernick has continued with his activism. He also became the face of a controversial Nike ad campaign, something which saw "record engagement".

This is what the ladies of The View had to say about this new ad campaign:

[[jwplayerwidget||http://content.jwplatform.com/videos/Rl49xQOu-Q0L14jDU.mp4||Rl49xQOu]]

On Saturday, in fact, the ad won the Creative Arts Emmy for Outstanding Commercial over a year after its premiere, CBS News reports.

The former quarterback narrated the commercial, which was created by the Wieden+Kennedy ad agency and produced by Park Pictures. A number of renowned athletes appeared in the two-minute commercial, titled Dream Crazy, including Serena Williams and LeBron James.

Per CBS News, Nike's stocks rose by 5% in the weeks after the commercial's release.