Hip-hop moguls Jay-Z and Sean "Diddy" Combs find themselves at the center of disturbing allegations dating back to 2000.
According to Daily Caller, Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, has been named in a civil lawsuit alleging he participated in the sexual assault of a 13-year-old girl along with Diddy at an MTV Video Music Awards after-party.
The lawsuit was initially filed in October in the Southern District of New York's federal court, with Combs as the primary defendant. The accuser, identified as "Jane Doe," claims she was assaulted at a party following the VMAs at Radio City Music Hall. Carter's name was added to the suit in a refiling on Sunday.
The accuser states that she gained access to the VMAs despite not having a ticket. According to the lawsuit, a limousine driver claiming to work for Combs told her she "fit what Diddy was looking for" and transported her to the party. Before entering, she was allegedly made to sign what she now believes was a non-disclosure agreement.
The legal documents detail that after consuming a beverage at the party, the victim became disoriented and went to lie down. The suit alleges that both Combs and Carter entered the room where she was resting, leading to the alleged assault.
The lawsuit falls under New York's Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Act. Texas attorney Tony Buzbee, who claims to represent over 120 alleged victims in cases against Diddy, filed the lawsuit.
Carter issued a strong denial through an official statement, challenging the accuser to file criminal charges. He said, as quoted by NBC News:
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? These alleged victims would deserve real justice if that were the case.
The rapper emphasized his background and values in another statement:
I'm not from your world. I'm a young man who made it out of the project of Brooklyn. We don't play these types of games. We have very strict codes and honor. We protect children.
Combs's legal team has dismissed the various lawsuits filed by Buzbee as publicity stunts designed to extract money from celebrities. They maintain that Combs never engaged in sexual assault or trafficking.
The allegations come amid serious legal troubles for Combs, who was arrested in September on racketeering and sex trafficking charges. He remains in custody at Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center after three unsuccessful bail attempts, with his trial scheduled for May 5.
Buzbee's court documents reveal that Carter received a mediation request letter before the lawsuit's refiling. In response, Carter filed his own lawsuit against the accuser's attorneys.
A civil lawsuit filed in New York's Southern District has named Jay-Z as an alleged accomplice in a sexual assault case involving Sean "Diddy" Combs. The case centers around events that allegedly occurred at an MTV VMAs after-party in 2000, where a then-13-year-old girl claims she was assaulted by both music moguls.
The allegations emerge as Combs faces multiple legal challenges, including racketeering and sex trafficking charges, with his trial set to begin on May 5. Both Carter and Combs maintain their innocence, with their legal teams actively fighting the accusations through various legal channels.
