Kid Rock referred to Jay-Z as the NFL's 'DEI hire' after Jay-Z chose Bad Bunny for the Super Bowl halftime show

Kid Rock/Shutterstock

Kid Rock recently insulted Jay-Z, calling him a "DEI hire" for the NFL, after he expressed his disapproval of Bad Bunny's halftime performance during an interview with Laura Ingraham on FOX News. His statement follows his performance for Turning Point USA's alternative Super Bowl halftime show, which he headlined Sunday. Kid Rock stated, “Nothing against Jay-Z. I respect him for his hustle and his music, but it seems like there’s a little bit of a DEI hire there going on.” Rock's performance reportedly had 6.1 million viewers, whereas more than 135 million people watched Bad Bunny's performance.

Bad Bunny during the halftime show/YouTube screenshot

Jay-Z, through his company Roc Nation, has been serving as the NFL's live music entertainment strategist and co-producer of the Super Bowl halftime show since 2020. His role aims to bring more cultural elements to the halftime performances.

Jay-Z/Shutterstock

Partnering with the NFL is a fitting role for the music mogul, considering that Jay-Z's significance in the music industry spans decades, having won 25 Grammy Awards, and is a multi-platinum artist who has released 13 studio albums. The Brooklyn native also played a crucial role in launching the careers of numerous artists, including Rihanna, Kanye West, and J. Cole, as well as rappers Memphis Bleek and Beanie Sigel. He also collaborated with many prominent acts throughout his career, including Foxy Brown, Linkin Park, Mary J. Blige, Beyoncé, Rihanna, Alicia Keys, Justin Timberlake, Eminem, and many others.

Jay Z and Blue Ivy at the Super Bowl (2026)

In 1996, he partnered with Damon Dash and Kareem "Biggs" Burke to co-found Roc-A-Fella Records, which became a major force in hip-hop before the label was dismantled.

Nevertheless, Jay catapulted himself to the top of the music industry. His most successful music tour was  On the Run II in 2018, which he co-headlined with Beyoncé and reportedly grossed over $253.5 million. His net worth has reportedly ballooned to $2.5 billion over the years.

Jay-Z has not yet responded to Kid Rock's remarks.

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