Jay-Z, real name Shawn Carter, billionaire artist and emblematic figure of hip-hop is in turmoil. In a complaint filed Sunday, the rapper and producer is accused of raping a 13-year-old girl with Sean “Diddy” Combs. The latter is currently being sued in civil court by more than 120 victims, including 25 minors at the time of the events, who accuse him of sexual assault. 20 Minutes takes stock of the matter.
What exactly happened?
The events date back to the year 2000, during an evening following the MTV Video Music Awards in the United States. The complainant, identified as Jane Doe, claims to have been only 13 years old at the time of the incident. The young girl claims to have been drugged after consuming a drink during the evening.
She was then allegedly taken to a room where Jay-Z sexually assaulted her. In the previous version of the complaint, the artist was simply referred to as “Celebrity A”, before being cited by name. “Another celebrity stood by and watched Sean “Diddy” Combs and Shawn Carter take turns assaulting the girl. Many other people were present at the party, but did nothing to stop the attack,” according to the complaint.
Jay-Z’s reactions
Jay-Z’s response was immediate. Via his record label Roc Nation, the artist released a statement on X. “These allegations are so heinous that I implore you to file a criminal complaint, not a civil one! “, he said. Jay-Z’s lawyers filed a motion requesting either the lifting of Jane Doe’s anonymity or the outright dismissal of the complaint. According to them, the anonymity of the complainant prevents a fair defense and makes it impossible to identify possible witnesses for the defense.
Furthermore, Jay-Z directly attacked the victim’s lawyer, Tony Buzbee, accusing him of attempted blackmail. “He calculated that the nature of these allegations and the public attention would cause me to agree to an out-of-court settlement. No, sir, it had the opposite effect! “. Tony Buzbee immediately responded: “We will not allow the powerful to silence survivors of sexual assault. »
Impact on Jay-Z’s family
For Jay-Z, this situation raises personal concerns. The artist expressed sadness over the impact these accusations could have on his family, particularly his children and his wife Beyoncé.
“My wife and I will have to explain to our children, one of whom is at an age where his friends see the press, why these accusations exist. I mourn another loss of innocence,” he said in a statement.
The continuation of the affair
The affair promises to be long and complex. The next few months will be decisive in determining the veracity of the accusations and their potential consequences on Jay-Z’s career. On a legal level, this case will be examined in the coming months.
Our file on sexual assault
It also raises questions about the balance between protecting the identity of plaintiffs and the rights of defendants to fully defend themselves. Shawn Carter’s lawyers believe that Jane Doe must be identified to allow a fair review of the facts. For their part, advocates for sexual assault victims argue that anonymity is crucial to protect survivors and encourage others to come forward.
