Washington [US], February 15: Sean Combs and Jay-Z are no longer facing a lawsuit that accused them of raping a 13-year-old girl in 2000, as a court document filed on Friday in New York federal court reveals. The anonymous accuser’s lawyer requested the dismissal of the complaint “with prejudice,” meaning it cannot be refiled. No further information was provided on the matter.
Jay-Z, also known as Shawn Carter, responded to the dismissal by posting a statement on X, calling the allegations “frivolous, fictitious, and appalling.” He went on to describe the civil suit as meritless, adding, “The fictional tale they created was laughable, if not for the seriousness of the claims.”
Combs also issued a statement, calling the dismissal “yet another confirmation that these lawsuits are built on falsehoods, not facts.” He accused the accusers of “hiding behind anonymity,” and claimed their attorney was “more focused on media headlines than legal merit.” Combs expressed confidence that other similar lawsuits would be dismissed as well.
The lawsuit, initially filed in October 2024, alleged that Combs and Jay-Z raped the accuser, referred to as Jane Doe, at a house party following the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards in New York. The complaint was amended to include Jay-Z, who strongly denied the accusations, calling them a “blackmail attempt.”
The civil suit alleged that Combs and Carter drugged and assaulted the victim after she was given a drink that made her feel “woozy” and “lightheaded.” The lawsuit further claimed that the victim was forced to sign a non-disclosure agreement and was assaulted while others allegedly stood by without intervening.
Jay-Z responded by labeling the lawsuit as an extortion attempt and denounced attorney Tony Buzbee, calling him a “fraud” and a “deplorable human.” He vowed not to settle the case and promised to expose Buzbee publicly. Carter similarly criticized Buzbee, referring to him as a “1-800 lawyer” who filed a suit without evidence, and called for courts to protect innocent individuals from baseless accusations.
In December, U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres ruled against Carter’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit and allowed Jane Doe to proceed anonymously, with the potential requirement to reveal her identity if the case continues. She also criticized the “combative motions” and “inflammatory language” used by Carter’s lawyer during the legal proceedings.
The dismissal of this case ends one chapter in a legal saga, though it remains to be seen if additional lawsuits or legal actions related to these allegations will arise.