Music mogul and billionaire entrepreneur Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, has vehemently denied allegations in a civil lawsuit that accuse him and Sean “Diddy” Combs of raping a 13-year-old girl during an afterparty following the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards. The claims was filed in federal court by an unnamed plaintiff identified as Jane Doe, Forbes reported.
In a statement released on Dec. 8, Jay-Z, 55, called the allegations as “heinous” and a “blackmail attempt,” describing the claims as deeply harmful to his family.
“My only heartbreak is for my family,” he said, referencing his 12-year-old daughter Blue Ivy and 7-year-old twins, Rumi and Sir, whom he shares with his wife, Beyoncé. “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,” the hip-hop legend continued, according to People. “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.”
The lawsuit alleges that Jane Doe was driven to a New York City residence after the VMAs and was served a drugged drink before being assaulted by both Jay-Z and Combs, while a female celebrity allegedly looked on. Combs’ legal team has dismissed the allegations as a “shameless publicity stunt” orchestrated by attorney Tony Buzbee, who represents the accuser and over 100 other clients in similar cases against Combs.
“My lawyer received a blackmail attempt, called a demand letter, from a ‘lawyer’ named Tony Buzbee. What he had calculated was the nature of these allegations and the public scrutiny would make me want to settle,” Jay-Z said. “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!!”
He added, “You seem to exploit people for personal gain. Only your network of conspiracy theorists, fake physics, will believe the idiotic claims you have levied against me that, if not for the seriousness surrounding harm to kids, would be laughable.”
Combs, who has been in federal custody since September on charges of sex trafficking and racketeering, also denies all allegations. His trial is scheduled for May 2025.
