Sexual Assault Lawsuit Against Jay-Z and Diddy Dropped

A lawsuit accusing Jay-Z and Sean “Diddy” Combs of sexual assault has been voluntarily withdrawn, according to court documents filed on Friday (February 14).

The case, originally filed in December by an anonymous plaintiff known as Jane Doe, alleged that the two artists assaulted her at a VMA after-party in 2000 when she was 13 years old.

Documents obtained by Rolling Stone confirm that Doe withdrew her complaint with prejudice, meaning she is legally barred from refiling the lawsuit in the future.

Attorneys for Combs—who remains in federal custody following his September arrest on charges including sex trafficking and racketeering—stated there was no settlement between the parties. Combs has consistently denied all allegations against him.

Jay-Z, born Shawn Carter, has also maintained his innocence, calling the claims “heinous” after being named in an amended complaint in December. His legal team previously criticized Doe’s attorney for “getting basic facts wrong.”

Last month, Carter filed additional arguments to have the lawsuit dismissed and requested monetary sanctions against Texas-based lawyer Tony Buzbee, accusing him of failing to properly investigate the claims before filing the suit.

Buzbee declined to comment on the case’s dismissal, per Rolling Stone.

In a statement shared with NME, the Empire State of Mind rapper described the lawsuit’s dismissal as a “victory.”

“The frivolous, fictitious, and appalling allegations have been dismissed,” Carter stated. “This civil suit was without merit and never had a future. The fictional tale they created would be laughable if not for the seriousness of the accusations. I wouldn’t wish this experience on anyone.”

He continued:

“The trauma that my wife, children, and loved ones have endured cannot simply be dismissed. A 1-800 lawyer can file a lawsuit hiding behind Jane Doe, and when they realize the money grab won’t work, they get to walk away with no consequences. The system has failed.”

“The court must protect victims, OF COURSE, but it must also protect the innocent from baseless accusations. May the truth prevail for both real victims and those falsely accused.”

Carter’s attorney, Alex Spiro, also responded to the lawsuit’s dismissal, stating:

“The false case against Jay-Z, which never should have been filed, has been dismissed with prejudice. By standing firm against these heinous and untrue allegations, Jay did what few can—he fought back, never settled, never paid a single penny, and ultimately cleared his name.”

Previously, Spiro referenced an NBC News interview in which the accuser stood by her claims but admitted to “some mistakes” regarding witness accounts. Carter’s legal team also pointed out inconsistencies in the allegations, arguing that many aspects of the plaintiff’s story—including her alleged arrival at the VMAs and interactions with various individuals—were either false or highly unlikely.

(via The Guardian)

Attorneys for Sean “Diddy” Combs have also welcomed the lawsuit’s dismissal, taking aim at attorney Tony Buzbee by calling him a “1-800 lawyer.”

“For months, we have seen case after case filed by individuals hiding behind anonymity, pushed forward by an attorney more interested in media headlines than legal merit. Just like this claim, the others will collapse because they are baseless,” they stated.

However, Combs continues to face mounting legal troubles. Earlier this month, reports surfaced that he is expected to be named in over 10 new civil lawsuits, according to a lawyer representing multiple alleged victims.

Additionally, he previously faced accusations of making disturbing threats against a contestant on his early 2000s reality show Making The Band, allegedly claiming he would eat their flesh.