Rapper and music mogul Jay-Z has been named in an updated civil lawsuit alleging the rape of a 13-year-old girl in 2000, alongside Sean “Diddy” Combs, Al Jazeera reports.
The lawsuit, filed Sunday, alleges the assault occurred at an after-party following the MTV Video Music Awards. Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, vehemently denies the allegations.
The plaintiff, who remains unidentified, initially referred to Jay-Z as “Celebrity A” in the original complaint against Combs, who is currently incarcerated awaiting trial on separate charges of sex trafficking and racketeering. The updated filing directly names Carter, accusing him of filing a “frivolous” countersuit.
In a statement posted to X (formerly Twitter) by his label, Roc Nation, Jay-Z accused attorney Tony Buzbee, who represents the plaintiff, of attempted blackmail.
“My lawyer received a blackmail attempt… from a ‘lawyer’ named Tony Buzbee,” the statement reads. “No sir, it had the opposite effect! It made me want to expose you for the fraud you are.” Jay-Z calls Buzbee a “deplorable human.”
Buzbee, however, told AFP that the lawsuit speaks for itself and that the alleged victim “never demanded a penny” from Jay-Z, only seeking confidential mediation. He said that the matter will be litigated in court.
Combs, also 55, has pleaded not guilty to the sex trafficking and racketeering charges against him. His criminal trial is scheduled for May 5, 2025. He is facing a significant number of civil lawsuits, with Buzbee stating in October that over 100 alleged victims planned legal action.
The allegations against Jay-Z are serious and are likely to draw significant public attention, given his prominent status in the music industry and his marriage to Beyoncé.
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