Jay-Z Responds To Accusations With Passionate Defense Of Family
Jay-Z has spoken out following allegations in an amended civil lawsuit accusing him and Sean “Diddy” Combs of assaulting a minor in 2000. The rapper, 55, strongly denied the claims, calling them “heinous” and expressing concern for how they will impact his family.
In a statement shared on X (formerly known as Twitter), Jay-Z, born Shawn Carter, addressed the allegations and defended his family, including his wife, Beyoncé, and their three children: Blue Ivy, 12, and twins Rumi and Sir, 7. “My only heartbreak is for my family,” he wrote, adding, “My wife and I will have to sit our children down, one of whom is at the age where her friends will surely see the press and ask questions about the nature of these claims, and explain the cruelty and greed of people.”
Jay-Z emphasized the emotional toll of the situation, stating, “I mourn yet another loss of innocence.”
The lawsuit, which was first filed in October, was recently amended to include Jay-Z as a defendant. It accuses him and Diddy of assaulting a 13-year-old girl, referred to as Jane Doe, at a 2000 MTV Video Music Awards afterparty. Jane Doe alleges she was driven to a New York City residence where she was assaulted while a female celebrity allegedly watched.
Jay-Z did not hold back in his response, calling the lawsuit a “blackmail attempt” orchestrated by Jane Doe’s attorney, Tony Buzbee. “What he had calculated was the nature of these allegations and the public scrutiny would make me want to settle. No sir, it had the opposite effect! It made me want to expose you for the fraud you are in a VERY public fashion,” he declared.
The rapper also urged Tony to file criminal charges if the allegations were true, stating, “These allegations are so heinous in nature that I implore you to file a criminal complaint, not a civil one! Whomever would commit such a crime against a minor should be locked away, would you not agree?”
Jay-Z further criticized Tony’s approach, accusing him of exploiting the justice system for personal gain. “You have made a terrible error in judgment thinking that all ‘celebrities’ are the same. I’m not from your world. I’m a young man who made it out of the projects of Brooklyn. We don’t play these types of games. We have very strict codes and honor. We protect children, you seem to exploit people for personal gain.”
Meanwhile, Diddy, who faces a separate set of legal challenges, denied the allegations through his legal team. In a statement to PEOPLE, Diddy’s attorneys described the claims as “shameless publicity stunts” designed to extract settlements. “In court, the truth will prevail: that Mr. Combs never sexually assaulted or trafficked anyone,” the statement said.
