Jay-Z, one of the music industry’s most influential figures, is facing grave allegations in a civil lawsuit.
The 55-year-old rapper and business mogul, whose real name is Shawn Carter, has been accused alongside Sean “Diddy” Combs of assaulting a 13-year-old girl at an afterparty following the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards.
The allegations were brought forward by a woman referred to as Jane Doe, who filed the original lawsuit in October, naming P Diddy as a defendant.
An amended complaint, filed on December 8, added Jay-Z to the case. The lawsuit, which paints a harrowing picture of the alleged events, accuses the two men of attacking the minor at a New York City residence during the afterparty, while another unnamed female celebrity allegedly looked on.
According to Jane Doe’s account, she was outside Radio City Music Hall attempting to gain entry to the VMAs when she was approached by a limousine driver.
The driver, claiming to work for P Diddy, reportedly told her she “fit what Diddy was looking for” and invited her to an exclusive afterparty later that evening.
Upon arrival at the party, the lawsuit claims Jane Doe was asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement before being served a drink that she alleges was drugged.
The lawsuit goes on to describe chilling details of the alleged assault, claiming that P Diddy and Jay Z took turns attacking the girl while the unnamed female celebrity observed.
Jay-Z responded to the allegations in a lengthy and impassioned statement shared on Roc Nation’s X (formerly Twitter) account, vehemently denying any wrongdoing and condemning the lawsuit as a “blackmail attempt.”
“These allegations are so heinous in nature that I implore you to file a criminal complaint, not a civil one!!” he wrote. “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.”
© Kevin MazurThe rapper, who has built an empire spanning music, business, and philanthropy, expressed frustration at the motivations behind the lawsuit.
“What [the plaintiff’s lawyer, Tony Buzbee] 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!!”
In his statement, Jay-Z also spoke about his heartbreak with his family:
“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.
“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 projects 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.”
Jay-Z concluded his statement with a firm declaration of his intent to fight the accusations. “I look forward to showing you just how different I am.”
Sean “Diddy” Combs, also named in the lawsuit, issued a statement through his attorneys dismissing the claims as baseless.
“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,” his legal team stated.
© VALERIE MACONThe attorneys reiterated their confidence in the judicial process, asserting that “in court, the truth will prevail: that Mr. Combs never assaulted or trafficked anyone — man or woman, adult or minor.”
The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages and adds to a growing list of legal troubles for Combs.
Attorney Tony Buzbee, who is representing Jane Doe, claims to be working with over 100 individuals who have accused Combs of various forms of misconduct.
Despite the seriousness of the allegations, Buzbee has remained tight-lipped about the specifics of the case, stating only, “The pleading speaks for itself. This is a very serious matter that will be litigated in court.”
This case comes amid mounting scrutiny over how the justice system handles allegations of sexual misconduct involving high-profile figures.
Critics have questioned why the accusations, which date back 24 years, are being pursued in a civil lawsuit rather than through criminal charges. Jay-Z himself highlighted this issue in his statement, urging the plaintiff to pursue criminal justice if the claims are valid.