Hip-hop mogul Jay-Z (Shawn Carter) is among the defendants in a civil lawsuit filed by a woman identified as Jane Doe, who claims that she was sexually assaulted by Sean “Diddy” Combs and Jay-Z in 2000, when she was 13 years old.
After his name was revealed, Jay-Z responded on X via his Roc Nation account, calling the lawsuit a “blackmail attempt” by Jane Doe’s lawyer, Tony Buzbee. Jay-Z vehemently denied the allegations, describing them as “heinous” and asserting that anyone guilty of such crimes should be imprisoned. He also expressed concern for his family, particularly his daughter, Blue Ivy, who is now old enough to see the accusations. Following his statement, Jay-Z attended the premiere of Mufasa with Beyoncé and Blue Ivy, likely in an effort to show unity amid the controversy.
In an exclusive interview with NBC News, Jane Doe shared her account of the assault. Despite inconsistencies in her story, she maintained that her claims were truthful, explaining that she had “made some mistakes” but was no longer staying silent. She recounted sneaking out of her house as a 13-year-old to attend the 2000 Video Music Awards in New York, where she allegedly met a limo driver who worked for Diddy. Jane Doe claims the driver took her to a party, where she signed a document she didn’t read and mingled with celebrities before being assaulted by Diddy and Jay-Z.
She fled the scene and called her father from a gas station, though her father disputes the details of this part of the story. Additionally, some have pointed out inconsistencies, such as her claim of speaking with Benji Madden, who was on tour and not at the VMAs. Jay-Z’s legal team is reportedly seeking to dismiss the case, demanding Jane Doe reveal her identity or drop the lawsuit. The rapper continues to deny the allegations, declaring, “True Justice is coming.”