Jay-Z set the record straight on why he and Beyoncé remained seated during the National Anthem at the Super Bowl, and it had nothing to do with political protest.
“It was not premeditated at all,” Hov said while speaking at Columbia University on Tuesday (Feb. 4). “If it was, I would say it. I think people know that about me.”
The true reason why Jay and Bey were seated was because they “immediately jumped into artist mode,” as Demi Lovato’s began to perform the anthem.
The 50-year-old mogul pointed out that Beyonce wanted to make sure everything ran smoothly during Lovato’s performance. “Because she performed at the Super Bowl before, and I haven’t,” he said as the crowd laughed.
“We got there and we were sitting and now the show is about to start,” Hov explained. “So we get there, we immediately jump into artist mode. I’m really just looking at the show. The mics start. Was it too low to start?”
Since forging a partnership with the NFL last year, Jay’s Roc Nation imprint has become the production arm behind the Super Bowl entrainment, which included Lovato’s performance.
“The whole time we’re sitting there, we’re talking about the performance. Right after that, Demi comes out and we’re talking about how beautiful she looked and how she sounds and what’s she’s gone through in her life, and [how] we’re so proud of her,” he said of Lovato.
Jay also pointed out that Blue Ivy was with them at the game, and they wouldn’t have involved her in making a statement. He noted that the 8-year-old would’ve foiled any of their premeditated plans. “We wouldn’t do that. And if anyone knows Blue, if we told her we were gonna’ do something like that you would’ve seen her tapping me 100 times. She’s the kid that gets in the car, closes the door and says ‘Are we there yet daddy?’”
Hov spoke at Colombia University on Tuesday for the launch of the Jay-Z Carter Lecture Series that kicked off with a conversation steered by legendary journalist, Jelani Cobb. The event covered a variety of topics in African American life and culture, including the Brooklyn’s native’s music carer, activism, philanthropy and his artistic legacy.