Topline
A lawsuit accusing Jay-Z and Sean “Diddy” Combs of rape in 2000 was voluntarily dropped by the accuser Friday, a little over two months after it was filed against the rappers, who strongly denied the claims—part of a litany of allegations against Combs.
The lawsuit was dropped Friday. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
Key Facts
Attorneys Tony Buzbee and Antigone Curis, who represented the Jane Doe, said in a filing the lawsuit was “voluntarily dismissed, with prejudice,” meaning the suit cannot be refiled.
The lawsuit accused Carter and Combs of drugging and raping the Jane Doe, alleging Carter engaged in “a conspiracy of harassment, bullying and intimidation” in an attempt to “silence” her.
The anonymous plaintiff said she was 13 years old at the time of the rape, alleging it occurred at a Video Music Awards afterparty in 2000.
Jay-Z, whose name is Sean Carter, called the allegations against him “frivolous, fictitious and appalling” in a statement Friday, saying the “fictional tale” filed in court “was laughable.”
Carter and Combs denied the allegations against them after the lawsuit was filed, with Carter calling Buzbee a “deplorable human” and encouraging the lawyer to pursue a criminal complaint instead of a civil one.
Antigone did not immediately respond to Forbes’ request for comment.
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Tangent
Carter has clashed with Buzbee both before and after the rape lawsuit. Prior to the now-dismissed suit, Carter sued Buzbee anonymously for extortion, after Buzbee allegedly sent the rapper a letter threatening a “public lawsuit” if an agreement was not reached to privately resolve abuse allegations.
Key Background
The lawsuit against Carter and Combs was filed in December, provoking denials from both rappers and a fiery statement from Carter, who called Buzbee “an ambulance chaser in a cheap suit.” Carter and Combs have collaborated on music multiple times through their respective careers, with features dating back to 1997. Carter did not comment on Combs’ arrest and the swath of allegations against him until he was named in the rape lawsuit against Combs, who still faces federal criminal charges and dozens of lawsuits from separate accusers. The rapper was denied bail after his arrest last year, is being held at Brooklkyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center and has a trial date for his federal charges in May. The charges include sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution.
Further Reading
Sean Combs-Jay-Z Lawsuit Dropped: Here Are All The Major Allegations Against Diddy (Forbes)
New Accusers Claim They Were Assaulted By Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs—Here Are All Tony Buzbee’s Lawsuits (Forbes)
Diddy Files $100 Million Lawsuit Over NBC Doc: Here Is The Latest On Sean Combs (Forbes)
