Jay-Z Sues Woman Over Retracted Rape Accusation
Rapper Claims "Evil Conspiracy" to Extort Money and Damage Reputation
- Jay-Z has filed a defamation lawsuit against a woman who recently retracted her accusations of rape against him.
- The lawsuit alleges that the woman "voluntarily admitted" to being pressured into making false claims
- Jay-Z states that the accusations have caused personal and professional harm
Jay-Z has filed a defamation lawsuit against a woman who recently retracted her accusations of rape against him.
The woman had initially filed a lawsuit in October, which she refiled in December, accusing Jay-Z (Shawn Carter) and Sean “Diddy” Combs of raping her when she was 13 years old, following the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards. Both rappers denied the allegations.
Jay-Z’s lawsuit, filed in federal court in Alabama, also names the woman’s lawyers, Tony Buzbee and David Fortney, accusing them of orchestrating the false claims.
The lawsuit claims that the woman told Jay-Z’s legal team that her lawyers pressured her into making the false allegations. It also alleges that despite her admitting Jay-Z “did not sexually assault [her],” Mr. Buzbee “pushed [her] towards going forward” with the false story to strengthen the case and extort money.
Jay-Z’s lawsuit also points out alleged inconsistencies in the woman’s interview with NBC News, and claims that her father contradicted her account of the alleged assault. The lawsuit further alleges that Mr. Buzbee’s firm failed to properly vet the woman’s claims and background.
Tony Buzbee has denied any wrongdoing, claiming that Jay-Z’s team attempted to intimidate the woman into retracting her statements. He maintains that she stands by her claims.
Jay-Z states that the accusations have caused personal and professional harm, including the loss of business contracts for his company, Roc Nation, and have taken an emotional toll on his family.
