Jay-Z, Beyoncé and their daughter Blue Ivy Carter all attended the global premiere for Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King just 24 hours after allegations broke.
A woman alleges that she was raped aged 13 at the MTV Music Awards in 2000 by Jay-Z and Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs. Jay-Z, real name Shawn Carter, denied allegations when they broke on Sunday.
The suit only named Combs, 55, when it was first filed in New York in October but was refiled over the weekend to include Carter. Carter has reportedly filed a motion to waiver her identity.
The family smiled together on the red carpet at the event held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. Beyoncé’s mother Tina Knowles also joined them for the Californian event.
Their attendance come as a surprise due to the recent claims, but posing for pictures together sent a clear message that they are a united front.
Blue Ivy has a starring role in the movie as the voice of Kiara, and Beyoncé, 43, returned to Instagram to celebrate her contribution.
‘My gorgeous baby girl. This is your night. You worked hard and you did such a beautiful job as the voice of Kiara,’ Beyoncé, who also plays the voice of Nala, wrote.
She continued: ‘Your family could not be prouder. Keep shining.’
For the event, both Beyoncé and Blue Ivy, 12, chose metallic dresses, while Carter wore a dark suit and Tina put on all-black ensemble.
In an earlier statement on X, Carter said: ‘My heart and support goes out to true victims in the world, who have to watch how their life story is dressed in costume for profitability by this ambulance chaser in a cheap suit.’
Carter also addressed Beyoncé, and their children Blue Ivy and twins Rumi and Sir, seven, as he’s expecting they’ll ask questions.
He said: ‘My wife and I will have to sit our children down, one of whom is at the age where her friends will surely see the press and ask questions about the nature of these claims, and explain the cruelty and greed of people. I mourn yet another loss of innocence.
‘Children should not have to endure such at their young age. It is unfair to have to try to understand inexplicable degrees of malice meant to destroy families and human spirit.
‘My heart and support goes out to true victims in the world, who have to watch how their life story is dressed in costume for profitability by this ambulance chaser in a cheap suit.’
Combs’ legal representative has also denied the allegations and said Jay-Z has ‘never sexually assaulted or trafficked anyone –man or woman, adult or minor.’
They told Metro: ‘This amended complaint and the recent extortion lawsuit against Mr Buzbee exposes his barrage of lawsuits against Mr Combs for what they are: shameless publicity stunts, designed to extract payments from celebrities who fear having lies spread about them, just as lies have been spread about Mr Combs.’
‘As his legal team has said before, Mr Combs has full confidence in the facts and the integrity of the judicial process. In court, the truth will prevail: that Mr Combs never sexually assaulted or trafficked anyone –man or woman, adult or minor.’
Jay-Z’s statement in full
My lawyer received a blackmail attempt, called a demand letter, from a “lawyer” named Tony Buzbee.
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.
This lawyer, who I have done a bit of research on, seems to have a pattern of these type of theatrics! I have no idea how you have come to be such a deplorable human Mr Buzbee, but I promise you I have seen your kind many times over. I’m more than prepared to deal with your type.
You claim to be a marine?! Marines are known for their valor, you have neither honor nor dignity.
My only heartbreak is for my family. My wife and I will have to sit our children down, one of whom is at the age where her friends will surely see the press and ask questions about the nature of these claims, and explain the cruelty and greed of people.
I mourn yet another loss of innocence.
Children should not have to endure such at their young age. It is unfair to have to try to understand inexplicable degrees of malice meant to destroy families and human spirit.
My heart and support goes out to true victims in the world, who have to watch how their life story is dressed in costume for profitability by this ambulance chaser in a cheap suit.
You have made a terrible error in judgment thinking that all “celebrities” are the same. I’m not from your world.
I’m a young man who made it out of the project of Brooklyn. We don’t play these types of games. We have very strict codes and honor.
We protect children, you seem to exploit people for personal gain. Only your network of conspiracy theorists, fake physics, will believe the idiotic claims you have levied against me that, if not for the seriousness surrounding harm to kids, would be laughable.
I look forward to showing you just how different I am.
In response to Carter’s statement, Tony Buzbee, who is representing the accuser known as ‘Jane Doe’, told Sky News: ‘The pleading speaks for itself. This is a very serious matter that will be litigated in court.’
Doe alleged the assault happened after she was driven to an after-party. According to NBC, Doe claims she was dropped off at the VMAs in Radio City Music Hall by a friend and tried to obtain a ticket for the event or an after-party.
She said she approached various limousine drivers and was told by one he worked for Combs, 55, and ‘fit what Diddy was looking for.’
At the party, Doe alleges Carter removed her clothes and raped her while an unnamed female celebrity looked on. She claims Combs also raped her while Carter and the female celebrity watched.
Doe is seeking unspecified damages.
On X, he also wrote: ‘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. 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. Since I sent the letter on her behalf, Mr Carter has not only sued me, but he has tried to bully and harass me and this plaintiff.
‘His conduct has had the opposite impact. She is emboldened. I’m very proud of her resolve. As far as the allegations in the complaint filed, we will let the filing speak for itself and will litigate the facts in court, not in the media.’
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