Jay-Z & Beyoncé Respond To Criticism Of Their Sitting During National Anthem At The Super Bowl

Founder of Roc Nation Jay-Z, his wife Beyoncé and daughter Blue Ivy were seen on Super Bowl Sunday sitting down during Demi Lovato’s performance of the national anthem. The image drew criticism  from many viewers.

Jay-Z tried to clear the air this week. “It actually wasn’t [a protest]. Sorry,” he told TMZ. “It just happened. I didn’t have to make a silent protest. If you look at the artists we chose, Shakria (Colombian) and Jennifer Lopez (Puerto Rican). We are making the loudest protest of all.”

Beyoncé stated that she was explaining to her husband that she understood what Lovato was going through because, of her experience of performing the national anthem at the Super Bowl.

Critics were drawing parallels to the power couple and former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick. Jay-Z and Beyoncé are avid supporter of Kaepernick, who in 2016 knelt during the national anthem to protest for police brutality against African American citizens. He started a hurricane in the NFL that still goes on today. Kaepernick is now a free agent that hasn’t been signed to a team since the end of the 2016-2017 season.