Jay-Z Says Now-Dismissed Rape Lawsuit Filing Date Was Strategic
Sean “Diddy” Combs remains locked up in a federal prison while he awaits a criminal trial, but has one less lawsuit to worry about. An unidentified woman has withdrawn her lawsuit that accused both Combs and Jay-Z of rape.
Jay-Z, who has not been implicated in any criminal investigation, responded by filing a lawsuit of his own. The music mogul filed suit against Tony Buzbee, the lawyer who represented the woman. In his filing, he accuses the lawyer of launching a “smear campaign” and inflicting emotional and financial distress on his family. Jay-Z claims the lawsuit’s filing date was strategic.
The lawsuit against Jay-Z has been dropped, but he’s not letting it go
Jay-Z has spent the last two months with allegations of rape and sexual abuse looming over his head. In December, the rap mogul was named in one of dozens of lawsuits filed against Sean “Diddy” Combs. The accuser alleged that Diddy and Jay-Z raped her at a 2000 afterparty. She was just a teen at the time. Jay-Z was quick to deny the allegations.
On February 14, the lawsuit was voluntarily dismissed without prejudice. In short, the accuser agreed to drop the lawsuit and cannot refile it. It is unclear why the accuser opted to drop the claim. While the dismissal of the claim is a win for Jay-Z, he isn’t ready to let things go.
The rapper, whose legal name is Shawn Carter, has filed a lawsuit against Buzbee. Jay-Z claims he lost $20 million in contracts and partnerships because of the lawsuit and what he describes as Buzbee’s “smear campaign.” There is also an emotional aspect to the situation, though.
Jay-Z says Tony Buzbee tried to inflict maximum damage with lawsuit filing date
Jay-Z isn’t just objecting to the lawsuit as a whole; he has an issue with when Buzbee opted to file the paperwork. In his filing, Jay-Z accuses the lawyer of strategically filing the lawsuit to coincide with the release of Mufasa: The Lion King.
According to People, Jay-Z argues that Buzbee wanted to inflict maximum emotional and financial damage with the lawsuit’s timing, forcing him to choose between supporting his daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, or staying out of the spotlight in light of the allegations. Blue Ivy voiced Kiara in the movie, the 13-year-old’s first major acting role.
Buzbee filed the lawsuit on behalf of the still unidentified accuser on Dec. 9, 2024, the same day as the Mufasa: The Lion King premiere. News of the lawsuit broke hours before Jay-Z hit the red carpet and was photographed with his daughter and wife, Beyonce Knowles. Despite smiling in the photos, the entire family looks a bit tense at the event.
Buzbee has not yet commented.
