NEW YORK (AP) — The rapper Jay-Z says a rape allegation made in opposition to him is a part of an extortion try.
A lady who beforehand sued Sean “Diddy” Combs, alleging she was raped at an awards present after-party in 2000 when she was 13, amended the lawsuit Sunday to incorporate a brand new allegation that Jay-Z was additionally on the occasion and took part within the sexual assault.
The 24-time Grammy award profitable rapper, producer and music mogul known as the allegations “idiotic” and “heinous in nature” in a press release launched by considered one of his firms.
He additionally revealed that he had anonymously sued the girl’s lawyer, Tony Buzbee, in California, alleging Buzbee was attempting to blackmail him by threatening to make the rape allegation public if he did not conform to a authorized settlement.
Jay-Z stated a letter his lawyer obtained from Buzbee appeared to hunt a settlement however had the “reverse impact.”
“It made me want to expose you for the fraud you are in a VERY public fashion,” his assertion learn. “So no, I will not give you ONE RED PENNY!!”
The litigation is a part of a wave of sexual assault lawsuits levied in opposition to Combs because the hip-hop mogul stays in custody in New York awaiting trial on federal intercourse trafficking costs.
The lady, who isn’t named within the swimsuit, says she was hanging round Radio Metropolis Music Corridor throughout the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards and managed to speak a limousine driver into bringing her to a celebrity-studded occasion at a non-public residence after the occasion.
She stated that whereas she was within the limousine, she was requested to signal a nondisclosure doc. As soon as on the occasion, the lawsuit stated, she took a drink that made her really feel “woozy and lightheaded” and went right into a bed room to lie down.
She stated that Combs and Jay-Z, whose authorized title is Shawn Carter, then barged into the room together with one other unnamed superstar and raped her.
Buzbee, a private harm lawyer in Houston, Texas, introduced at a information convention in October that he represents some 120 individuals — each women and men — with allegations of sexual misconduct in opposition to Combs.
His agency, which has arrange a 1-800 quantity for accusers, started submitting a wave of fits in opposition to the hip-hop mogul just a few weeks later.
Combs’ attorneys on the time denied the allegations, and criticized the press convention and hotline as “clear attempts to garner publicity.”
Buzbee stated the allegation that he was attempting to blackmail Jay-Z is “stupid and laughable,” and that his letter merely sought confidential mediation within the litigation.
“What he fails to say in his recent statement is that my firm sent his lawyer a basic demand letter on behalf of an alleged victim and that victim never demanded a penny from him,” he stated in an emailed assertion. “Since I sent the letter on her behalf, Mr. Carter has not only sued me, but he has tried to bully and harass me and this plaintiff. His conduct has had the opposite impact. She is emboldened. I’m very proud of her resolve.”
Emails in search of further remark have been despatched Monday to representatives for Jay-Z.
In his assertion posted on X, previously Twitter, the rapper challenged Buzbee to hunt felony costs and stated his “heart and support goes out to true victims in the world.”
He additionally lamented that he and spouse Beyoncé will doubtless have to handle the claims with their three youngsters and “explain the cruelty and greed of people.”
The assertion concluded that solely conspiracy theorists will consider “the idiotic claims you will have levied in opposition to me that, if not for the seriousness surrounding hurt to youngsters, can be laughable.”
In a press release, Combs’ attorneys dismissed Buzbee’s lawsuits as “shameless publicity stunts, designed to extract payments from celebrities who fear having lies spread about them, just as lies have been spread about Mr. Combs.”
Combs was denied bail a 3rd time final month as he awaits trial in Might. He’s pleaded not responsible to costs he coerced and abused ladies for years.
Jay-Z and Combs are a part of a technology of hip-hop titans who rose to prominence within the 2000s, rising as wide-ranging entrepreneurs and two of the world’s wealthiest rappers. Earlier this 12 months, Forbes estimated Jay-Z’s internet price to be $2.5 billion.
The artists have collaborated over time, with Jay-Z being featured on Combs’ debut album, “No Way Out” and Combs showing on Jay-Z’s sophomore album, “In My Lifetime, Vol. 1.”
Whereas the pair has been continuously photographed collectively at occasions, they’ve additionally been been rivals. Diddy launched his Unhealthy Boy Information across the identical time Jay-Z launched his Roc-A-Fella document label.
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AP Music Author Maria Sherman in New York contributed to this story.
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Observe Philip Marcelo at twitter.com/philmarcelo.
