Accuser drops rape lawsuit against Jay-Z and Diddy

Jay-Z has hailed the dismissal of a lawsuit that accused him and Sean "Diddy" Combs of assaulting a 13-year-old girl in 2000, calling it a "victory" against false allegations.

The case was voluntarily withdrawn by the plaintiff, identified as Jane Doe, according to legal documents filed on Friday in New York.

Attorney Tony Buzbee, who represents Jane Doe and is also handling multiple lawsuits related to sexual misconduct allegations against Mr Combs, submitted the notice of dismissal. The filing states that the lawsuit was dismissed "with prejudice," meaning it cannot be refiled in its current form.

Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, issued a statement through his entertainment company, Roc Nation, asserting that the case was baseless.

"These false and outrageous allegations have been dismissed," he said. "This lawsuit was without merit and never had any standing. The fabricated story was not only absurd but also deeply troubling given the nature of the claims."

He added, "The distress my family, friends, and I have endured cannot simply be erased. The justice system must protect the innocent from baseless accusations. May the truth prevail for both real victims and those who are falsely accused."

Jay-Z’s lawyer, Alex Spiro, echoed his sentiment in a separate statement, saying that the lawsuit should never have been brought forward.

"By standing firm against false and harmful claims, Jay refused to be intimidated—he never settled, never paid, and successfully defended himself," Spiro said.

Jane Doe originally filed the case against Mr Combs in October before later adding Jay-Z’s name in December, alleging that both men assaulted her following an MTV Video Music Awards afterparty in 2000. Jay-Z denied any involvement, stating that his legal team had been subjected to "blackmail" in an attempt to force a settlement. Instead of complying, he chose to challenge the accusations publicly.

In a December interview, Jane Doe made statements that cast doubt on her claims, admitting that "not all the facts are clear" and stating, "I have made some mistakes. I may have misidentified."

Last month, Jay-Z formally requested the court to dismiss the case, citing inconsistencies in the accuser's testimony. United States District Judge Analisa Torres granted the request, leading to the lawsuit’s dismissal.

Although Jay-Z is no longer facing legal proceedings in this matter, Mr Combs is still dealing with over 30 civil cases.

Following the dismissal, Mr Combs’ legal team released a statement reaffirming his innocence.

"For months, we have seen anonymous accusations brought forward by individuals working with an attorney focused more on media attention than legal substance. Just as with this case, others will also collapse due to lack of evidence," the statement read.

It added: "This is just one of many cases that will not stand up in court."

Mr Combs has been in custody at the Metropolitan Detention Centre in Brooklyn, New York, since September 2024 on federal charges related to racketeering and sex trafficking.

He has been denied bail three times and remains in custody, with his trial scheduled for 5 May 2025.