An Alabama woman, who alleged she was sexually assaulted by rappers Jay-Z and Sean “Diddy” Combs at the age of 13, has retracted her civil lawsuit against both entertainers, as indicated by recent court documents.
The woman initially filed a lawsuit against Combs in December in Manhattan federal court, subsequently adding Jay-Z, whose full name is Shawn Carter, as a defendant. She claimed the incidents occurred in 2000 after she was offered a ride to an MTV Video Music Awards after-party by Combs’ driver.
In the official filing from her legal representatives, no specific reasons were provided for the voluntary withdrawal of the lawsuit.
Jay-Z, who firmly refuted the allegations and previously sought to be removed from the legal proceedings, characterized the woman’s decision as a “victory.” He described the allegations as a “laughable” fabrication concocted by her and her legal team.
“The absurd and baseless accusations have been dismissed,” Jay-Z stated in a message shared on social media. “This civil suit lacked merit and was heading nowhere.”
On the other hand, Combs is currently in custody in New York, awaiting a criminal trial related to federal sex trafficking charges. He is also dealing with a multitude of sexual assault lawsuits, many initiated by attorney Tony Buzbee, who claims to represent over 150 clients alleging sexual misconduct and exploitation by Combs.
Combs’ legal team remarked that the dismissal of this case without any settlement reinforces their belief that the allegations in other lawsuits are similarly unfounded.
“For several months, we have witnessed numerous claims made by individuals remaining concealed behind anonymity, propelled by a lawyer seeking more media attention than legal credibility. Like this claim, the others will ultimately collapse due to a lack of truth,” they stated, insisting that Combs has never committed any acts of sexual assault or trafficking.
When reached for a comment, Buzbee opted not to respond, saying “no comment” in an email sent on Friday evening.
Buzbee’s firm has launched a series of lawsuits against Combs, alleging that numerous individuals were subjected to abuse at parties across New York, California, and Florida, where drinks were allegedly spiked with drugs.
Both Jay-Z and Combs criticized Buzbee and his legal practice, dismissing them as a “1-800-lawyer” outfit. Jay-Z accused him of exploiting the anonymity of his clients for financial motives.
“When they quickly understand that their monetary pursuits will not succeed, they escape without facing any consequences,” Jay-Z expressed. “The system has failed.”
Jay-Z and Combs belong to a generation of prominent hip-hop figures who gained fame in the early 2000s and have evolved into successful entrepreneurs, ranking among the wealthiest rappers in the world.
The duo has collaborated on various projects throughout their careers, with Jay-Z featuring on Combs’ debut record, “No Way Out,” and Combs appearing on Jay-Z’s second album, “In My Lifetime, Vol. 1.”
Diddy’s Bad Boy Records was established around the same period that Jay-Z launched Roc-A-Fella Records. The two have often been seen together at various events.
With a remarkable 25 Grammy Awards, Jay-Z leads the accolades, while Diddy has earned three. Roc Nation, Jay-Z’s company, was also a co-executive producer for this year’s Super Bowl halftime show.
