Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter has denied allegations of raping a 13-year-old girl at an after-party following the 2000 Video Music Awards, alongside Sean “Diddy” Combs.
The accusations were made in an amended civil lawsuit filed on Sunday, which claimed that “another celebrity stood by and watched as Combs and Carter took turns assaulting the minor.”
Jay-Z responded to the allegations in a statement posted on the Roc Nation X account, stating that the claims were a “blackmail attempt” by the complainant’s attorney, Tony Buzbee.
“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 wrote.
However, Jay-Z asserted that the allegations had the opposite effect, making him want to “expose” Buzbee for the “fraud” he claimed he was.
“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.
Jay-Z also questioned why the filing was a civil lawsuit rather than a criminal filing, stating that “whomever would commit such a crime against a minor should be locked away.”
He urged the complainant to file criminal charges if her claims were true, saying “these alleged victims would deserve real justice if that were the case.”
The music mogul expressed concern for his family, particularly the impact of the allegations on his children. “My only heartbreak is for my family. 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,” he wrote.
In response to Jay-Z’s statement, Buzbee told ABC News that “the pleading speaks for itself. This is a very serious matter that will be litigated in court.” Buzbee also posted a statement on his personal Instagram account, saying that he would not be “bullied or intimidated” and that “the truth will be revealed.”
Combs’ legal representatives also responded to the filing, calling it a “shameless publicity stunt” designed to extract payments from celebrities. “Mr. Combs has full confidence in the facts and the integrity of the judicial process. In court, the truth will prevail: that Mr. Combs never sexually assaulted or trafficked anyone — man or woman, adult or minor,” they said in a statement.
Jay-Z has no prior accusations of this nature and has strongly denied the claims. “My wife and I will have to explain the cruelty and greed of people to our children. I mourn yet another loss of innocence,” Jay-Z stated.
