In a stunning development, rapper and entrepreneur Jay-Z, born Shawn Carter, has been named in a refiled civil lawsuit that accuses him and Sean "Diddy" Combs of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl in 2000. The lawsuit, initially filed in October in the Southern District of New York, was amended Sunday to include Carter alongside Combs, according to a report by NBC News. The accuser, identified as Jane Doe, alleges that the incident occurred at an after-party following the MTV Video Music Awards.
The lawsuit claims that Doe was taken to the party by a limousine driver who suggested she "fit what Diddy was looking for." Upon arrival, she was reportedly required to sign a non-disclosure agreement. The accuser alleges that both Carter and Combs assaulted her in a private room while others, including an unnamed female celebrity, looked on. According to the suit, the girl was offered a drink that left her feeling "woozy and lightheaded."
Doe is seeking unspecified damages under New York's Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Act.
Jay-Z issued a fiery response on social media through his Roc Nation account, categorically denying the allegations and accusing the accuser's lawyer, Tony Buzbee, of blackmail. "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," Carter wrote. "These allegations are so heinous in nature that I implore you to file a criminal complaint, not a civil one."
pic.twitter.com/jl8sgOllCM — Roc Nation (@RocNation) December 9, 2024
Buzbee, who has previously filed multiple lawsuits against Combs, has not publicly responded to Carter's statements. Combs, already facing numerous civil cases and federal charges related to alleged sex trafficking and racketeering, is currently detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn awaiting trial.
The refiled lawsuit marks the first time Carter has been implicated in such allegations. In his statement, Jay-Z expressed anger over the impact of the allegations on his family. "My wife and I will have to sit our children down and explain the cruelty and greed of people. I mourn yet another loss of innocence," he said.
Carter also called into question the legal strategy of Buzbee, alleging the lawyer had made a "terrible error in judgment" by pursuing what he described as baseless accusations for profit. "I'm not from your moral world," Carter stated. "We have very strict codes and honor. We protect children."
Combs' legal team similarly denied the allegations, calling them "shameless publicity stunts designed to extract payments from celebrities who fear having lies spread about them." In a separate statement, Combs' representatives reaffirmed his innocence, stating, "Mr. Combs never sexually assaulted or trafficked anyone-man or woman, adult or minor."
The accuser's claims date back to a period when both Carter and Combs were prominent figures in the music industry. The suit alleges the party was attended by numerous celebrities, with cocaine and marijuana allegedly present at the scene. According to the accuser, the incident ended when she fled to a gas station and called her father.
The timing of the lawsuit is noteworthy, as it coincides with Combs' ongoing federal case involving accusations of trafficking and exploitation. Prosecutors in that case are reportedly exploring additional charges, further complicating the legal landscape for the music mogul.
Legal experts suggest the high-profile nature of the case could intensify public scrutiny on how allegations against powerful figures in entertainment are handled in civil and criminal courts. The case has also sparked renewed debate over the use of civil litigation in addressing allegations of sexual misconduct, particularly when the alleged victim is a minor.
The allegations come as both Carter and Combs face mounting legal challenges. Combs is awaiting trial on criminal charges that could result in life imprisonment, while Carter's legal team has hinted at possible countersuits against the accuser's lawyers.
