American rapper and entrepreneur, Shawn Carter, popularly known as Jay Z, has responded to a new civil lawsuit that accuses him of molesting a 13-year-old girl along with his colleague, Sean “Diddy” Combs.
The 55-year-old rapper is being sued along with Combs for allegedly rapping a 23-year-old girl at an afterparty following the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards.
The lawsuit was filed by the victim identified as Jane Doe, who initially named Diddy as the defendant in October. An updated version of the complaint, filed on December 8, added Jay-Z to the case.
The suit includes disturbing claims that the two men assaulted the girl at a New York City residence, with another unnamed female celebrity reportedly witnessing the event.
According to the lawsuit, Jane Doe was trying to enter the VMAs at Radio City Music Hall when a limousine driver approached her, claiming to work for Diddy.
The driver allegedly told her that she “fit what Diddy was looking for” and invited her to a private afterparty. Once at the party, she claims she was asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement before being given a drink that she believes was drugged.
The lawsuit goes on to describe the assault, claiming that both Combs and Jay-Z took turns attacking her while the female celebrity looked on.
Reacting in a statement shared on Roc Nation’s X (formerly Twitter), Jay-Z denied any wrongdoing, calling the lawsuit a “blackmail attempt” and urged the accuser to file criminal charges instead.
He emphasized that anyone who would commit such a crime against a minor should face prison time and that these victims would deserve real justice in a criminal court, not a civil one.
The rapper wrote, “My lawyer received a blackmail attempt, called a demand letter, from a ‘lawyer’ named Tony Buzbee,’ he said. ‘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.
The rapper expressed frustration with the lawsuit, saying that he would not settle as the accuser’s lawyer had hoped. Instead, Jay-Z said the case made him more determined to fight back.
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 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,” he said.
Jay Z also shared his sorrow for how the accusations would affect his family, especially his children, who will inevitably hear about the case. He described the situation as a “loss of innocence” and condemned the cruelty behind such false accusations.
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,” he said.
Jay-Z said in his statement that Buzbee ‘made a terrible error in judgement’ in categorizing all celebrities as the same, referencing his own rise and New York City beginnings.
He also took the opportunity to make a point about his background, stating that he didn’t come from the celebrity world and that people like him don’t tolerate exploitation or false claims.
The rapper said, “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 ended his statement by saying he is eager to show just how different he is from the accuser’s world and promised to fight the allegations.
Sean “Diddy” Combs, who is also named in the lawsuit, has denied the claims through his lawyers, calling them part of a publicity stunt designed to extort money from celebrities.
