Musician and producer Jay-Z was accused in a lawsuit filed on Sunday of raping a 13-year-old girl along with hip-hop star Sean Combs in the year 2000, according to court documents, which Jay-Z has denied.
An updated complaint in a civil case against Combs alleges that Jay-Z, whose full name is Shawn Carter, and Combs raped the girl at an afterparty following the MTV Video Music Awards in September 2000.
“Another celebrity stood by and watched as Combs and Carter took turns assaulting the minor. Many others were present at the afterparty, but did nothing to stop the assault,” the complaint states.
“Carter has been with Combs during many such instances described herein. Both perpetrators must face justice.”
Jay-Z was originally identified in the complaint as “Celebrity A,” but the updated lawsuit refers to Carter and accuses him of filing a “frivolous” countersuit.
The plaintiff’s identity remains undisclosed in the lawsuit.
In response, Jay-Z criticized the lawyer behind the case, calling him a “deplorable human.”
“My lawyer received a blackmail attempt, called a demand letter, from a ‘lawyer’ named Tony Buzbee. What he had calculated was that 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,” Jay-Z’s statement, published on X by his label Roc Nation, reads.
“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.”
Carter, 55, is a billionaire record producer and entrepreneur who began his career as a rapper and is now married to superstar Beyoncé.
Tony Buzbee, the lawyer bringing the case against Jay-Z, told AFP, “The pleading speaks for itself. This is a very serious matter that will be litigated in court.”
Rapper Combs, also known as “Diddy,” has separately been charged with sex trafficking and racketeering.
Federal prosecutors allege that Combs, 55, sexually abused women and coerced them into drug-fueled sex parties using threats and violence.
Combs has pleaded not guilty to all charges, with his criminal trial currently scheduled to begin on May 5, 2025.
Combs also faces numerous lawsuits, with lawyers—including Buzbee—promising legal actions from more than 100 alleged victims as of October.
Credit: AFP