Jay-Z has come out swinging against the lawsuit claiming that he sexually assaulted a 13-year-old girl with Diddy at a party in 2000.
Lawyers for the “99 Problems” rapper, born Shawn Carter, have filed a motion asking a judge to dismiss the claim — and he also wants the identity of the anonymous accuser to be “disclosed immediately” to the public.
The filing accuses the lawyer representing the accuser of a “sprawling extortion saga.”
The father of three, who is married to Beyoncé, was added Sunday to a lawsuit filed against Diddy in October. The new allegation was made in a filing by Texas-based attorney Anthony Buzbee, who has filed numerous claims against Diddy.
The filing from Jay-Z’s lawyers said Buzbee and the accuser, “leveled baseless allegations and accused Mr. Carter of despicable acts while hiding behind the pseudonym ‘Jane Doe.’”
“These claims are not about justice for victims. Nor are they about giving victims of sexual violence a voice,” the filing said.
“Instead, they are merely the next chapter in Attorney Buzbee’s sprawling extortion saga—a saga whose aim is base and measured in dollars.”
According to the lawsuit, Jay-Z assaulted the then-teenager along with Sean “Diddy” Combs at an MTV Video Music Awards afterparty in 2000. The accuser is now in her late 30s.
The original complaint only listed Combs as a defendant.
The accuser claimed that she was given a drink that made her feel “woozy” and “lightheaded” before she went into a bedroom to lie down.
Shortly afterward, she alleges, the two rappers entered the room with the Bad Boy Records founder saying, “You are ready to party!”
The plaintiff claims that Jay-Z removed her clothes, held her down and raped her while Combs and an unidentified female celebrity watched. She says that Combs also raped her as Jay-Z and the woman watched.
News of the lawsuit has gotten a surprising action from one member of Jay-Z and Beyonce’s inner circle. Her mother, Tina Knowles, “liked” an Instagram post from ABC 7 Chicago News that announced the news of the lawsuit.
Through his attorneys, Jay-Z has vehemently and forcefully denied any wrongdoing within hours of the lawsuit being filed — claiming the suit is a blackmail attempt.
“That campaign was cynical and calculated to force payment of an exorbitant sum of money—Defendant would have to pay X millions of dollars irrespective of the truth, or else,” the doc reads.
His legal team added: “On Dec. 6, Buzbee resorted to desperation tactics and filed a temporary restraining order against Carter’s attorneys, which was ultimately denied by the judge.”
Diddy has also denied any wrongdoing.
“When Defendant refused to pay and instead took measures to establish his innocence, this unnamed Plaintiff and her self-promoting counsel (whose name has been splashed across headlines and press conferences under auspices of representing her) went to extraordinary lengths to shut down fair defense.”
Jay also said he was heartbroken that his wife, Beyoncé, and their three children — Blue Ivy, 12, and twins Rumi and Sir, 7 — have to deal with this situation.
“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,” he told Page Six in a statement, referring to his eldest child.
“I mourn yet another loss of innocence. Children should not have to endure such at their young age. It is unfair to have to try to understand inexplicable degrees of malice meant to destroy families and human spirit.”
The lawsuit is the latest development in the high-profile downfall of Diddy, who is behind bars in a Brooklyn detention center after being arrested and charged with sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution.
Combs, who pleaded not guilty to the charges, is also facing several other lawsuits accusing him of a range of crimes, including rape and sexual assault.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-330-0226.
