AceShowbiz -

A new report claims that Jay-Z won't headline halftime show at the upcoming Super Bowl. Last month, the rapper was rumored to be in talks to perform along with his pal Justin Timberlake during the sports event at the U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on February 4, but now The Sun reports that he has turned down the offer.

The rejection came after the Tidal founder paid tribute to Colin Kaepernick last week at his show at the Meadows Music and Arts Festival at Citi Field in Queens, New York. The rhymer dedicated "The Story of OJ" to the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback. It's "a song about blackness and managing money that also references O.J. Simpson."

Kaepernick caused controversy in 2016 for refusing to stand up in protest of police violence against minorities when the national anthem was being played. After the season ended, he became a free agent. There were speculations that he was snubbed due to his political views but NFL commissioner Rogert Goodell denied the rumors.

Besides paying homage to Kaepernick, Jay-Z remembered the late Dick Gregory who became the first black stand-up comedian who successfully crossed over to white audience. "I want to dedicate this to Dick Gregory. I want to dedicate this song to anyone that was held back and you overcame," the hip-hop star told the concertgoers.

NFL neither confirmed nor denied the rumors about Super Bowl. "No decisions have been made on the performer(s) and we are not going to speculate on particular artists," they said in a statement. "Along with Pepsi, we know that we will put on a spectacular show. When it is time to announce her name we will do it. Or his name. Or their names."

Past Super Bowl performers included the likes of Lady GaGa, Madonna, Michael Jackson, Katy Perry and Beyonce Knowles.