JAY-Z Speaks Out After Rape Lawsuit Is Dropped: “This Was a Money Grab”
JAY-Z is celebrating what he calls a victory after a lawsuit accusing him and Diddy of raping a minor 25 years ago was officially withdrawn.
On Friday (February 14), the woman behind the case voluntarily dismissed her claims in federal court. The lawsuit was dropped without prejudice, meaning it could technically be refiled, but for now, both JAY-Z and Diddy are cleared. Court filings show the plaintiff’s legal team discussed the decision with representatives for both men, who consented to the dismissal.
JAY-Z, who had vehemently denied the allegations from the start, responded with a firm statement. Shared by Roc Nation, he called the lawsuit a “frivolous, fictitious, and appalling” attempt to damage his name.
“This civil suit was never going anywhere,” he said. “The fictional tale they created was laughable, if not for the seriousness of the claims. I would not wish this experience on anyone. The trauma that my wife, my children, loved ones, and I have endured can never be dismissed.”
He also took direct aim at the woman’s lawyer, Tony Buzbee, accusing him of using the case as a publicity stunt. “This 1-800 lawyer gets to file a suit hiding behind Jane Doe, and when they quickly realize the money grab is going to fail, they get to walk away with no repercussions. The system has failed,” he said.
JAY-Z’s attorney, Alex Spiro, echoed his client’s frustration, stating: “By standing up in the face of heinous and false allegations, Jay has done what few can—he pushed back, he never settled, he never paid one red penny, and he cleared his name.”
The lawsuit, originally filed in October 2024, initially named only Diddy before JAY-Z was added as a defendant two months later. It accused them of raping a 13-year-old girl at a party following the MTV Video Music Awards in 2000. From the beginning, JAY-Z called the allegations “blackmail” and a desperate attempt to extort him.
Spiro held a press conference in December, presenting evidence that cast doubt on the woman’s story. Eventually, the plaintiff herself admitted in an NBC News interview that she had made “some mistakes” in recalling details.
While JAY-Z is now free from legal trouble, the same can’t be said for Diddy. He remains in jail, facing serious sex trafficking and racketeering charges, along with over 40 civil lawsuits accusing him of sexual misconduct.
For JAY-Z, this chapter may be closed, but the larger conversation about false accusations and legal accountability continues.