Jay-Z has been accused of raping a 13-year-old girl alongside fellow musician Sean Combs, also known as Diddy, in a lawsuit filed on Sunday. The incident allegedly occurred at an afterparty following the MTV Video Music Awards in September 2000, according to court documents.
The updated complaint claims that Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, and Combs assaulted the girl while others at the party, including another celebrity, stood by and did nothing. “Carter has been with Combs during many such instances described herein. Both perpetrators must face justice ” the complaint states. Initially referred to as “Celebrity A,” Jay-Z was later named in the lawsuit, which also accuses him of filing a “frivolous” countersuit.
Jay-Z has denied the allegations and issued a statement through his label, Roc Nation, accusing the plaintiff’s lawyer, Tony Buzbee, of blackmail. “My lawyer received a blackmail attempt called a demand letter… It made me want to expose you for the fraud you are,” he wrote. Jay-Z also urged the accuser to pursue a criminal complaint instead, stating that anyone guilty of such a crime should be imprisoned.
Separately, Combs, 55, faces charges of sex trafficking and racketeering, with prosecutors alleging he organized drug-fueled sex parties and coerced women through threats and violence. He has pleaded not guilty, and his trial is set for May 2025.
Buzbee, representing the plaintiff, has called the lawsuit a serious matter that will be handled in court.
Jay-Z, 55, is a billionaire entrepreneur and music icon married to superstar Beyoncé. The case is part of a growing number of lawsuits against Combs, with more than 100 alleged victims reportedly preparing to take legal action.