Jay-Z Sues Over Dropped Assault Case, Claims Extortion Attempt
Jay-Z is fighting back against what he calls a “false” and “malicious” accusation. The rapper has filed a new lawsuit against attorney Tony Buzbee, David Fortney, and their Jane Doe client, claiming they knowingly pursued a fabricated case against him.
On March 3, Jay-Z (real name Shawn Carter) took legal action in Alabama, accusing the defendants of malicious prosecution, abuse of process, and civil conspiracy. He also filed a defamation claim against Jane Doe and is seeking damages for the harm caused.
The lawsuit stems from an earlier case, filed on October 20, 2024, that accused Jay-Z and Sean “Diddy” Combs of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl at an MTV Video Music Awards afterparty in 2000. The case was dismissed with prejudice on February 14, meaning it cannot be refiled. Jay-Z claims this suit was a calculated attempt to damage his reputation and force him into a financial settlement.
His new filing alleges that Jane Doe privately admitted to his representatives that he never assaulted her but that Tony pressured her to move forward with false claims. The suit further states that the allegations were designed to “extort” Jay-Z through a threatening private demand letter.
Tony, however, denies the claims, saying his client stands by her accusations. “This new case alleges the same claims as the one they pieced together and filed in Los Angeles. Like the one in LA, this new case in Alabama also has no legal merit,” he told PEOPLE. He also claimed that the statements attributed to Jane Doe in Jay-Z’s lawsuit were “completely made up.”
The legal battle between Jay-Z and Tony has been escalating for months. In December 2024, Jay-Z sued the lawyer in Los Angeles for civil extortion, defamation, and emotional distress. A judge recently ruled that the defamation claim could proceed to trial, though the extortion charge may be dismissed.
Jay-Z has also accused Tony of intentionally filing the lawsuit on February 10, right before his daughter Blue Ivy’s Mufasa: The Lion King movie premiere. He said this forced him to choose between supporting his daughter or avoiding media scrutiny. Despite the controversy, he and wife Beyoncé attended the event.
The rapper also claims that the false allegations cost him $20 million in lost contracts and caused him serious emotional distress. After the original lawsuit was dismissed, he released a statement on Roc Nation’s X account, calling it “a victory.”
