Jay-Z says he and Beyoncé will explain together to their children a civil lawsuit accusing him of raping a 13-year-old girl with Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs.
The rapper is facing an allegation from an unnamed woman that he and Diddy sexually assaulted the girl at the 2000 MTV Music Video Awards.
Jay-Z was named in the lawsuit for the first time on Sunday, and he issued a furious statement on X through his record label Roc Nation, personally attacking the lawyer representing his accuser.
He called the lawsuit a “blackmail attempt” and attacked the lawyer as a “deplorable human”, and said he and wife Beyoncé will now have to explain the publicity surrounding the lawsuit to their children, Blue Ivy, 12, and twins Rumi and Sir, seven.
“My only heartbreak is for my family. My wife and I will have to sit our children down, one of whom is at the age where her friends will surely see the press and ask questions about the nature of these claims, and explain the cruelty and greed of people”, he said.
“I mourn yet another loss of innocence. Children should not have to endure such at their young age. It is unfair to have to try to understand inexplicable degrees of malice meant to destroy families and human spirit.”
The civil lawsuit claims the woman – referred to as Jane Doe – was drugged and raped at an awards show afterparty on September 7, 2000 at New Radio City Music Hall in New York.
Jay-Z’s statement read: “My lawyer received a blackmail attempt, called a demand letter, from a ‘lawyer’ named Tony Buzbee.
“What he had calculated was the nature of these allegations and the public scrutiny would make me want to settle.
“No sir, it had the opposite effect! It made me want to expose you for the fraud you are in a VERY public fashion. So no, I will not give you ONE RED PENNY!!”
The 55-year-old rapper, real name Sean Carter, went on: “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. This lawyer, who I have done a bit of research on, seems to have a pattern of these type of theatrics!
“I have no idea how you have come to be such a deplorable human Mr. Buzbee, but I promise you I have seen your kind many times over. I’m more than prepared to deal with your type. You claim to be a marine?! Marines are known for their valor, you have neither honor nor dignity.”
Diddy is currently in custody, awaiting a criminal trial over multiple claims of sex trafficking, kidnapping, drugging women, and rape. He denies all the charges.
