Colin Kaepernick Says Roc Nation’s OG Juan Called Black Panthers a “Hate Group”

Colin Kaepernick says Juan “OG Juan” Perez, co-founder and president of Roc Nation Sports, once referred to the Black Panther Party as a “hate group” while commenting on a Huey P. Newton shirt Kaepernick was wearing. Roc Nation lists Perez as one of the company’s co-founders and the president of Roc Nation Sports.

The allegation is notable given Newton’s place in Black political history. Newton co-founded the original Black Panther Party with Bobby Seale in Oakland in 1966. The organization advocated Black nationalism, socialism and armed self-defense while also developing community programs.

It’s also important to distinguish the original Black Panther Party from the New Black Panther Party, a separate organization founded decades later. The Southern Poverty Law Center currently designates the latter as a hate group, while noting that members of the original Panthers have rejected any connection between the two organizations.

Kaepernick’s account adds another layer to the public discussion surrounding his relationship with Roc Nation and the company’s partnership with the NFL. Recent reporting on Kaepernick’s memoir details other disagreements he says he had with Roc Nation and JAY-Z over the NFL partnership and racial-justice issues.

Colin Kaepernick says in his own words that Roc-Nation president Juan Perez, also known as OG Juan, referred to the Black Panthers as a “hate group” while commenting on Kaepernick’s Huey P. Newton shirt.

This is your Black and brown coalition. pic.twitter.com/dP24d7n9v2

— Mike Baggz (@MikeBaggz) September 22, 2026