Jay-Z files defamation lawsuit against former rape accuser
It comes just weeks after an initial complaint against both Jay-Z and Diddy was dismissed
WARNING: This article includes accounts and imagery of sexual violence and may be distressing for some readers. Resources for support are listed at the end of this article.
Jay-Z, real name Shawn Carter, has filed a defamation lawsuit against a woman who formerly accused both him and Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs of rape, according to The Washington Post.
Carter filed a suit on Monday, March 3, against an unnamed Alabama woman known currently as Jane Doe, who alleged that she was assaulted by the men at the age of 13. The complaint was dismissed last month.
The lawsuit also names the plaintiff’s lawyers, Tony Buzbee and David Fortney, claiming that they and the accuser attempted to extort Carter for money.
According to The Washington Post, the lawsuit filed by Carter claims that defendants knew the allegations were false, and that they were “motivated by greed”.
It also claims that the woman timed her accusation to “inflict maximum pain and suffering on Mr. Carter”, with a “disregard of the truth and the most fundamental precepts of human decency”.
The suit alleged that the woman “voluntarily admitted” to Carter’s representatives that the accusations were false, and that she was “pushed” by lawyer Tony Buzbee to go ahead with the “false story” in order to “leverage a maximum payday”.
In a statement to TWP, Buzbee said that the quotes attributed to the accuser in the lawsuit are “made up, or they spoke to someone who isn’t Jane Doe”.
“[It’s] just another attempt to intimidate and bully this poor woman that we will deal with in due course,” Buzbee told the paper. “We won’t be bullied or intimidated by frivolous cases”.
In October, Jane Doe filed a case against Sean ‘Diddy' Combs, later adding Carter’s name in December. She alleged that the men took turns assaulting her at an MTV Video Music Awards afterparty in 2000.
The woman “voluntarily withdrew” her complaint in February with prejudice, meaning the same lawsuit cannot be filed again. Both men denied the allegations against them.
AFEM sponsor a confidential support service for anyone affected by sexual harassment within the Electronic Music Industry. Health Assured provide the service to ensure confidential expert counselling a safe and supportive environment for anyone who has been affected and needs guidance and support. Call 0800 030 5182, (Outside the UK: +44 800 030 5182) where trained experts will listen and support
[Via The Washington Post]
Gemma Ross is Mixmag's Assistant Editor, follow her on Twitter
