Jay-Z's legal team is urging the dismissal of a lawsuit accusing the rapper of raping a 13-year-old girl in 2000, citing admitted inconsistencies in the plaintiff's recollection. The case, filed in October and later amended, also accuses Sean "Diddy" Combs of involvement in the alleged assault during a post-MTV Video Music Awards party in New York City.
The lawsuit, brought by a woman identified as Jane Doe, claims she was drugged and assaulted at the party after being offered a drink that made her feel "woozy." She further alleges that she signed a nondisclosure agreement before the attack. However, Doe's statements in a recent NBC News interview have raised doubts about the accuracy of her claims.
"I have made some mistakes," the plaintiff told NBC, acknowledging discrepancies in her account. Among the inconsistencies, she claimed her father drove her home after the assault, but he reportedly denies recollection of the drive. Additionally, the plaintiff stated she spoke with musician Benji Madden at the party. Representatives for Madden confirmed he was on tour in the Midwest at the time, far from New York City.
Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, released a strongly worded statement responding to the interview. "Today's investigative report proves this 'attorney' [Tony] Buzbee filed a false complaint against me in the pursuit of money and fame," Carter said. "True Justice is coming. We fight FROM victory, not FOR victory. This was over before it began."
Carter's attorney, Alex Spiro, echoed the sentiment, describing the lawsuit as "frivolous" and criticizing Buzbee for failing to properly vet the claims before filing them. "It is stunning that a lawyer would not only file such a serious complaint without proper vetting, but would make things worse by further peddling this false story in the press," Spiro said.
Spiro has formally requested the court dismiss the case, arguing that the plaintiff must reveal her identity or drop the lawsuit entirely. He asserted that her anonymity lacks sufficient justification, adding that "vague assertions of potential harm fall far short of the stringent requirements."
The lawsuit is part of a series of legal actions targeting Combs, who is currently jailed in New York awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. The high-profile nature of the cases has drawn significant attention, with Buzbee claiming to represent approximately 120 alleged victims of Combs' misconduct.
The allegations against Jay-Z were added to the case in December. In response, Carter revealed he had anonymously sued Buzbee earlier, accusing the attorney of attempting to extort money by threatening to publicize Doe's claims unless a settlement was reached.
Buzbee defended his approach, stating that the lawsuit was referred to his firm after an initial vetting by another legal team. "Our client remains fiercely adamant that what she has stated is true, to the best of her memory," Buzbee said in a statement. He added that Doe has offered to undergo a polygraph test to support her allegations.
The lawsuit has highlighted the challenges of verifying decades-old claims of sexual assault, particularly when evidence is limited, and memories are fragmented. Experts note that inconsistencies in victim accounts can be a common result of trauma, though such discrepancies often complicate legal proceedings.
