Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter and Sean “Diddy” Combs face serious allegations in an amended civil lawsuit accusing them of raping a 13-year-old girl at an after-party following the 2000 Video Music Awards. Filed Sunday by Texas attorney Tony Buzbee, the suit claims another celebrity was present and “stood by and watched” the alleged assault but did not name this individual.
Jay-Z, who was added to the lawsuit after initially being referenced as “Celebrity A,” issued a strong denial through a statement on the Roc Nation X account. He claimed the lawsuit is part of an extortion attempt, referring to a “demand letter” his lawyer received from Buzbee ahead of the filing. “What he had calculated was that 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,” Jay-Z wrote. He emphatically stated he would not pay “one red penny.”
The plaintiff alleges she was lured to the party by a limousine driver and that both Carter and Combs assaulted her. While many similar lawsuits have been dismissed due to plaintiffs declining to be named, the judge in this case has permitted the now-adult victim to proceed anonymously, citing sufficient cause.
In his statement, Jay-Z questioned why the case was filed as a civil lawsuit rather than a criminal one, suggesting that criminal prosecution would be more appropriate for such serious accusations. “Whoever would commit such a crime against a minor should be locked away. These alleged victims deserve real justice,” he wrote.
Jay-Z also expressed concern over the emotional toll the case could take on his family, especially his children. “My wife and I will have to explain the cruelty and greed of people to our kids, one of whom is old enough to face questions from friends who may see these headlines,” he added.
Attorney Tony Buzbee responded by asserting the seriousness of the allegations and his commitment to pursuing justice in court. In a separate Instagram post, Buzbee criticized attempts to discredit him and his clients, declaring, “Sunlight is the best disinfectant, and I am quite certain the sun is coming.”
Diddy’s representatives also issued a statement, rejecting the lawsuit as a “shameless publicity stunt” designed to extort money from high-profile figures. “Mr. Combs has full confidence in the judicial process, and the truth will prevail: Mr. Combs never sexually assaulted or trafficked anyone—man, woman, adult, or minor,” his team stated.
This case continues to unfold as both Carter and Combs vehemently deny the allegations and prepare to fight the claims in court.