Kenny Stills is the latest NFL player to sound off on the recent partnership that's made waves across the league.
After Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter announced he was partnering with the NFL on an initiative centered around social justice — and is reportedly eyeing becoming part-owner of a team — there's one comment that stuck with the Dolphins wide receiver.
Carter said, "We’re past kneeling. I think it’s time for action," when the announcement was made last week. Stills, who is a prominent social activist and has been protesting during the playing of the national anthem before NFL games, didn't appreciate Carter's comment.
He spoke with reporters Monday and was reluctant at first, but then shared more details as to why he was upset with Carter's comments.
“For the most part what I’m trying to say to people is, let’s work toward solutions and let’s see what goes down from this deal,” Stills said. “You can’t tell right now. It doesn’t sit right with me. I don’t think it was handled the right way. But you never know. ...
“Some of the ways he answered his questions, talking about ‘we’re moving past kneeling,’ like he ever protested. He’s not an NFL player. Choosing to speak for the people like he had spoken to the people. Sometimes I notice that ... I wonder how many common people that he knows or that he has spoken to. I wonder if he has read my Facebook comments or my Instagram comments or some of the things people say to me. To be able to speak on it and say that we’re moving past something, it didn’t seem very informed.”
Kenny Stills on Jay-Z/NFL paternship: "Talking about we're moving past kneeling like he ever protested... Choosing to speak for the people like he had spoken to the people... I wonder if he's read my Facebook/IG comments or what people say to me... It didn't seem very informed." pic.twitter.com/QGak3JKCcO
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) August 19, 2019
Stills was one of three players who continued to protest racial injustice and police brutality in 2018, two years after Colin Kaepernick sat and then kneeled during the national anthem.
Fellow Dolphins receiver Albert Wilson and Panthers safety Eric Reid were the others to either kneel or stay in the tunnel before each game.
Stills has continued to be vocal about many issues, including ones pertaining to Dolphins owner Stephen Ross and his relationship with President Donald Trump.
He received death threats last week after he criticized Ross for holding a fundraiser for Trump's re-election campaign.