Jay-Z firmly denies sexual assault allegations after a woman accused him and Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs of raping her at the age of 13 at an MTV Video Music Awards afterparty in 2000. The woman, identified as Jane Doe, initially filed a lawsuit against Combs in October but recently amended it to include Jay-Z as a defendant.
According to the lawsuit, the woman alleges she became disoriented after drinking at the party and was then assaulted by both Combs and Jay-Z in a bedroom. She claims that after Combs assaulted her, she managed to escape the party.
In response, Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, called the allegations “heinous” and criticized the civil lawsuit, urging the plaintiff to pursue criminal charges instead. He further claimed that the woman’s attorney, Tony Buzbee, attempted to extort him with a “blackmail attempt.”
“My lawyer received a blackmail attempt, called a demand letter, from a ‘lawyer’ named Tony Buzbee,” reads the Dec. 8. statement. “What he had calculated was the nature of these allegations and the public scrutiny would make me want to settle. No sir, it had the opposite effect! It made me want to expose you for the fraud you are in a VERY public fashion. So no, I will not give you ONE RED PENNY!! These allegations are so heinous in nature that I implore you to file a criminal complaint, not a civil one!! Whomever would commit such a crime against a minor should be locked away, would you not agree? These alleged victims would deserve real justice if that were the case.”
The statement, posted on the official Roc Nation social media pages, was deleted shortly after it was posted, then reposted the statement with the added line “I look forward to showing you just how different I am.”
Jay-Z expressed deep heartbreak over the impact the allegations have had on his family, particularly his wife Beyoncé and their children. He wrote, “My only heartbreak is for my family,” adding that both he and Beyoncé would need to explain the situation to their daughter, Blue Ivy.
With Blue now of school age, he noted that she would likely encounter questions from friends who “will surely see the press and ask about the nature of these claims,” and emphasized the need to address “the cruelty and greed of people.”
Buzbee responded to Jay-Z via. Twitter.
“Regarding the Jay Z case and his efforts to silence my clients: Mr. Carter previously denied being the one who sued me and my firm,” reads the tweet. “He filed his frivolous case under a pseudonym. What he fails to say in his recent statement is my firm sent his lawyer a demand letter on behalf of an alleged victim and that victim never demanded a penny from him. Instead, she only sought a confidential mediation.”
Buzbee represents over 100 individuals with claims against Combs.
According to documents obtained by reporter Meghann Cuniff show that “lawyers for Shawn ‘Jay Z’ Carter are opposing the plaintiff’s request to proceed anonymously.’”
Combs, currently facing separate federal charges for sex trafficking and racketeering, denies all accusations, and his trial is set for May 2025.
Buzbee represents over 100 individuals with claims against Combs.