JAY-Z has been showing his support for unsigned NFL player Colin Kaepernick in recent months, but he's not the only member of the Carter-Knowles household making public displays of appreciation. Last night (December 5), Beyoncé turned up at the Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year ceremony to hand out a particularly special award.
Kaepernick was named the recipient of the Muhammad Ali Legacy Award for his highly publicized protests, which started with kneeling during the national anthem before games as a means of denouncing the ways the United States "oppresses black people and people of colour."
"In the last 16 months, Kaepernick's truth has been twisted, distorted and used for political gain. It has cost him at least a year of his NFL career and the income that should have come with it," Sports Illustrated wrote, regarding the decision to name him the winner. "But still, it is his truth. He has not wavered from it. He does not regret speaking it. He has caused millions of people to examine it. And, quietly, he has donated nearly a million dollars to support it."
The Muhammad Ali Legacy Award is awarded to an athlete who embodies sportsmanship, leadership and philanthropy, and uses their public platform as a vehicle for creating change in the world.
Watch Beyoncé present Kaepernick with the honour down below, as well as his acceptance speech.
Kaepernick was named the recipient of the Muhammad Ali Legacy Award for his highly publicized protests, which started with kneeling during the national anthem before games as a means of denouncing the ways the United States "oppresses black people and people of colour."
"In the last 16 months, Kaepernick's truth has been twisted, distorted and used for political gain. It has cost him at least a year of his NFL career and the income that should have come with it," Sports Illustrated wrote, regarding the decision to name him the winner. "But still, it is his truth. He has not wavered from it. He does not regret speaking it. He has caused millions of people to examine it. And, quietly, he has donated nearly a million dollars to support it."
The Muhammad Ali Legacy Award is awarded to an athlete who embodies sportsmanship, leadership and philanthropy, and uses their public platform as a vehicle for creating change in the world.
Watch Beyoncé present Kaepernick with the honour down below, as well as his acceptance speech.