Sexual Assault Lawsuit Against Jay-Z and Diddy Dropped by Accuser
A woman who accused hip-hop moguls Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter and Sean “Diddy” Combs of sexually assaulting her in 2000 when she was 13 has dropped her civil lawsuit.
Case Dismissed with Prejudice
On Friday, a filing in Manhattan federal court confirmed that the plaintiff, identified only as Jane Doe, voluntarily dismissed the case with prejudice—meaning she cannot refile the lawsuit in the future.
Tony Buzbee, the woman’s attorney, declined to comment on the decision.
Combs Faces Other Legal Battles
While this lawsuit has been dismissed, Sean “Diddy” Combs remains entangled in multiple legal battles. Currently, he is in a Brooklyn jail awaiting a May 5 criminal trial on racketeering and sex trafficking charges.
Additionally, Combs still faces dozens of other civil lawsuits—filed by both women and men—who have accused him of sexual assault and other misconduct. He has pleaded not guilty to the criminal charges and continues to deny all allegations.
Jay-Z Declares Victory
Unlike Combs, Jay-Z was only named in this one lawsuit, which he aggressively fought against. In a statement posted via his entertainment company, Roc Nation, Carter expressed relief over the case’s dismissal:
“Today is a victory. The frivolous, fictitious, and appalling allegations have been dismissed. This civil suit was without merit and never going anywhere.”
Carter also mentioned that the lawsuit caused distress for his wife, Beyoncé, and their children.
Combs’ Legal Team Responds
Combs’ lawyers also issued a joint statement emphasizing his innocence:
“Sean Combs has never sexually assaulted or trafficked anyone. We will continue to fight these baseless claims and hold those responsible. This is just the first of many that will not hold up in a court of law.”
Allegations and Lawsuit Details
Jane Doe had alleged that both Carter and Combs raped her at an afterparty following the 2000 MTV Music Video Awards. She claimed that the traumatic incident led to depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and social withdrawal.
With the lawsuit now dismissed, Jay-Z is free of legal claims, while Diddy continues to battle both criminal and civil cases.