Shawn Carter, better known as Jay-Z, faces accusations in a lawsuit alleging he and Sean “Diddy” Combs raped a 12-year-old girl at a post-VMAs party in 2000. The case, initially filed in October in New York’s Southern District, named Diddy as a defendant but was amended on Sunday to include Carter.
The lawsuit was brought by Texas-based attorney Tony Buzbee, who represented multiple victims in separate lawsuits against Diddy. Diddy, currently in custody at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center, faces federal charges of sex trafficking and racketeering. The charges were filed in September as part of an extensive investigation.
Jay-Z Responds to Allegations
In a statement to the Daily Beast, Jay-Z denied the allegations, calling them “idiotic” and vowing not to pay “ONE RED PENNY.” He also expressed support for actual victims while addressing the emotional toll the claims have on his family, including his wife, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, and their three children.
“My wife and I will have to sit our children down to explain the cruelty and greed of people,” said Carter, mourning what he called “another loss of innocence.”
Details of the Allegations
The lawsuit accuses Diddy and Carter of drugging and assaulting an unnamed plaintiff, referred to as Jane Doe, during an afterparty for the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards. Jane Doe alleged she was given an invitation to the party after attempting to enter the VMAs at Radio City Music Hall without a ticket. A limousine driver reportedly handed her the invite, claiming she “fit what Diddy was looking for.”
The suit alleges the plaintiff felt ill after consuming a drink at the party and sought refuge in a private room. According to the complaint, Combs entered the room, declaring, “You are ready to party,” before he and Carter assaulted her while an unnamed celebrity, referred to as Celebrity B, watched. The plaintiff escaped after hitting Combs in the neck and fled to a nearby gas station, where she called her father from the attendant’s phone.
Diddy’s Ongoing Legal Battles
Diddy has previously denied all accusations against him, but the allegations have expanded beyond this case. He faces mounting lawsuits and federal charges related to sex trafficking and racketeering.
Public Reaction and Media Coverage
NBC News was the first to report the amended lawsuit on Sunday night. While Carter continues to deny the allegations, public opinion remains divided as the legal proceedings unfold.
featured image credit: Nick steps both images used under https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/
