Jay-Z and Beyoncé have been bombarded with death threats after an anonymous plaintiff accused the rapper and Sean "Diddy" Combs of raping her when she was 13 years old, according to new court filings. The lawsuit, which was filed late last year, drew widespread attention-particularly due to Combs' ongoing legal troubles and incarceration on federal sex trafficking charges. Although the woman, identified only as Jane Doe, has since dropped her claims, Jay-Z insists that the lingering effects of the allegations have caused irreparable damage.
In a declaration submitted this month, Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, stated: "People have said, 'I can't wait until you join (Combs) in prison. Then later in hell.' Other comments have accused me of being a 'satanist,' a 'trafficker,' a 'terrorist,' and a 'monster,' called me the N-word and threatened violence against me and my wife, including to 'kill' or 'execute' us." He further revealed that the timing of Doe's lawsuit was calculated to inflict maximum harm. The complaint was filed one day before the premiere of the new movie "Mufasa: The Lion King," featuring his daughter, Blue Ivy, and mother, Beyoncé.
Jay-Z alleges that Tony Buzbee, the Texas attorney who represented Doe, orchestrated what he calls a "malicious and fictitious" lawsuit in an attempt to "put me in the position of having to choose between supporting my daughter or hiding to avoid the negative press." According to Jay-Z's countersuit, Buzbee also attempted to extract money from him in connection with another alleged incident involving a male accuser who claimed the rapper sexually assaulted him at a Beverly Hills party in 2015.
Jay-Z's complaint states, "I felt that Mr. Buzbee was placing a gun to my head - that I either bow to his demands or endure personal financial ruin." He also says the allegations tarnished his public image, causing him "mental anguish" and inflicting a loss of approximately $20 million in business deals. The Grammy-winning artist maintains that the damage goes beyond finances, citing threats against his family as a primary concern.
The now-dismissed lawsuit named both Jay-Z and Combs, 55, alleging that the assault occurred after the 2000 MTV Music Awards. Combs, known as Diddy, has been in the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn since his arrest in September on sex trafficking and racketeering charges. His team issued a statement following the dismissal, saying, "For months, we have seen case after case filed by individuals hiding behind anonymity, pushed forward by an attorney more focused on media headlines than legal merit."
Beyoncé, whose name appears repeatedly in critical online messages, was reportedly "relieved" by news that the rape lawsuit had been dismissed. According to a source quoted by the Daily Mail, "Relief is too simple a word to describe what Bey is feeling right now after Jay's current legal issues were dropped." Despite the ordeal, Beyoncé maintained her public commitments, attending events like the "Mufasa: The Lion King" premiere.
Combs, meanwhile, faces an array of other lawsuits-reportedly over 40-many tied to alleged sexual misconduct dating back years. Several of these were also filed by Buzbee on behalf of individuals claiming to have been underage at the time of the alleged assaults. Combs has repeatedly denied all wrongdoing and has been denied bail multiple times as he awaits trial on May 5.
Jay-Z and Roc Nation described the dismissal of the Doe lawsuit as a "victory," but the rapper underscored the lasting trauma it caused. In a statement, he said, "The trauma that my wife, my children, loved ones and I have endured can never be dismissed. This 1-800 lawyer gets to file a suit hiding behind Jane Doe, and when they quickly realize that the money grab is going to fail, they get to walk away with no repercussions."
Key points from Jay-Z's countersuit include:
- He lost an estimated $20 million in business deals.
- He claims Buzbee attempted to force a payout with "blatant blackmail attempts."
- He alleges the timing of the initial lawsuit was strategically placed to coincide with his daughter's film premiere.
While the immediate legal battle surrounding the woman's claims has subsided, Jay-Z's defamation suit against Buzbee remains ongoing. He contends that both he and his wife have been irreversibly harmed by the allegations and vows to seek accountability for what he describes as a reckless misuse of the justice system.
