Jay-Z has forcefully denied allegations of sexual assault involving a minor, calling the claims a calculated try at blackmail.
The accusation emerged from a civil lawsuit filed by an nameless accuser, who alleges the music mogul, together with Sean “Diddy” Combs, raped her at an MTV Video Music Awards after-party in 2000. The accuser was 13 years outdated on the time.
In a press release to E! Information, Jay-Z, whose actual title is Shawn Carter, expressed the non-public toll the allegation takes on his household, notably his youngsters: 12-year-old Blue Ivy and 7-year-old twins Rumi and Sir.
“My solely heartbreak is for my household,” he stated. “My spouse and I should sit our youngsters down, certainly one of whom is on the age the place her buddies will certainly see the press and ask questions in regards to the nature of those claims, and clarify the cruelty and greed of individuals.”
He added, “I mourn one more lack of innocence. Youngsters mustn’t must endure such at their younger age. It’s unfair to must attempt to perceive inexplicable levels of malice meant to destroy households and human spirit.”
Lawsuit and Response
The lawsuit, initially filed in October and refiled in New York final week, alleges that Jay-Z raped the lady whereas Combs and one other particular person known as “Movie star B” watched.
The go well with claims the lady was taken to the after-party below false pretenses by a limousine driver who stated she “match what Diddy was on the lookout for.” After denying her entry to the awards ceremony, the motive force allegedly invited her to the celebration.
Jay-Z vehemently denied the allegations in a press release launched through his Roc Nation platform. He particularly referred to as out the accuser’s lawyer, Tony Buzbee, for making an attempt to extort him.
“My lawyer acquired a blackmail try, referred to as a requirement letter, from a ‘lawyer’ named Tony Buzbee,” Jay-Z stated. “What he had calculated was the character of those allegations and the general public scrutiny would make me wish to settle. No sir, it had the alternative impact! It made me wish to expose you for the fraud you’re in a VERY public vogue. So no, I cannot provide you with ONE RED PENNY!!”
Jay-Z urged Buzbee to pursue a legal grievance as an alternative of a civil go well with if the allegations had been real.
“These allegations are so heinous in nature that I implore you to file a legal grievance, not a civil one!! Whomever would commit such against the law towards a minor must be locked away, would you not agree? These alleged victims would deserve actual justice if that had been the case.”
Combs’ Denial
Diddy’s representatives additionally denied the accusations.
“This amended grievance and the current extortion lawsuit towards Mr. Buzbee exposes his barrage of lawsuits towards Mr. Combs for what they’re: shameless publicity stunts, designed to extract funds from celebrities who concern having lies unfold about them, simply as lies have been unfold about Mr. Combs.”
They added, “As his authorized crew has stated earlier than, Mr. Combs has full confidence within the info and the integrity of the judicial course of. In courtroom, the reality will prevail: that Mr. Combs by no means sexually assaulted or trafficked anybody — man or girl, grownup or minor.”
Background on Tony Buzbee
Black Virginia Information Writer and BlackPressUSA.com correspondent Lauren Burke reported that Buzbee has a historical past of submitting high-profile lawsuits towards rich Black entertainers and athletes, together with Deshaun Watson, Travis Scott, and now Jay-Z and Combs.
He beforehand represented over 120 shoppers who sued Scott following the lethal 2021 Astroworld Pageant crowd surge.
Burke additionally drew consideration to Buzbee’s political affiliations. Although he ran as a Democrat for the Texas State Home in 2002, he supported Republican Rick Perry’s 2012 presidential marketing campaign and hosted a fundraiser for Donald Trump in 2016.
Jay-Z concluded his assertion by hinting at potential authorized motion.
“You’ve made a horrible error in judgement considering that each one ‘celebrities’ are the identical. I’m not out of your world. I’m a younger man who made it out of the initiatives of Brooklyn. We don’t play some of these video games. Now we have very strict codes and honor. We defend youngsters, you appear to use individuals for private acquire.
“I stay up for displaying you simply how completely different I’m.”
