Jack Dorsey Allegedly Bans His Employees from Mentioning Jay-Z

Is it tension, a strategic silence, or something more profound? The complex dynamic between Twitter founder Jack Dorsey and hip-hop mogul Jay-Z seems to have raised eyebrows yet again.

According to a recent Fortune report, Dorsey and his management teams have allegedly “sternly warned” employees at his tech company, Block, against mentioning Jay-Z. Despite Hov being one of nine board members, this directive reportedly came with no explanation, causing curiosity and whispers among the workforce.

Block employees allege that mentions of Jay-Z are now off-limits in communication channels like Slack and email. Adding fuel to the fire is the recent wave of layoffs at Block, which has reportedly led to growing unrest among its staff. For those who may not remember, Block acquired a significant stake in Jay-Z’s TIDAL streaming platform in 2021—a move widely viewed as a strategic financial maneuver. But even TIDAL wasn’t immune to cuts; just last week, the streaming service laid off dozens of employees, raising concerns that Block’s other holdings, such as CashApp and Square, may be next in line for similar cost-cutting measures.

Interestingly, the Fortune report suggests that some Block employees had mentioned Jay-Z in conversations related to the ongoing legal controversies involving fellow music industry giant Diddy before this ban was enforced. While Jay-Z is not linked to Diddy’s federal case, it’s notable that Dorsey would allegedly clamp down on any mention of Hov within his company. Is this an act of protecting a high-profile board member from potential gossip, or does Dorsey want to avoid internal distractions that might shift focus onto Jay-Z as a problem-solver for corporate woes? The reasons remain elusive.

It’s worth noting that Dorsey’s connection to the hip-hop world is more layered than just TIDAL and boardroom policies. Earlier this year, he made headlines for publicly supporting Kendrick Lamar over Drake, stirring up a storm among OVO loyalists who quickly shifted their attention to Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter). The tech billionaire has faced criticism for such unpredictable stances, and it leaves many wondering if we’ll ever get clarity on his motives.