A woman who accused rappers Jay-Z and Sean “Diddy” Combs of sexually assaulting her when she was 13 at a post-award show party has admitted to some inconsistencies in her story , while his lawyer said he would continue to look into his allegations.
Posted at 5:50 p.m.
Hallie Golden
Associated Press
The woman, whose name has not been released, said she was driven from Rochester to New York City for the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) in 2000, and then Combs’ limo driver offered her a lift. drive her to a party after the ceremony, NBC News reported Friday. She said she spoke with musicians Benji Madden and his brother at the party, and that her father came to pick her up after the alleged assault.
However, a rep for the Maddens confirmed to NBC that they were touring the Midwest during the VMAs, while her father said he didn’t remember the more than five-hour drive home. The woman’s friend who allegedly drove her to the awards ceremony has since died, NBC reported.
The woman initially sued Combs, alleging she was raped at a party, then amended the complaint to include a new allegation that Jay-Z, whose legal name is Shawn Carter, was also present at the party and participated in the sexual assault.
Jay-Z argued in a statement that the article proves that Tony Buzbee, a Houston personal injury lawyer, filed a false complaint against him for money and fame.
“This incident didn’t happen and yet he took it to court and doubled down on it in the press,” he said. True justice is coming. We fight from victory, not for victory. It was over before it even started. This 1-800 lawyer doesn’t realize it yet, but soon. »
Buzbee told The Associated Press in an email that if someone raises a new case that didn’t exist before, his legal team’s job is to continue collecting facts and evidence.
Jay-Z’s lawyer, Alex Spiro, asked the court to dismiss the case, saying in a statement: “It is astounding that an attorney would not only file such a serious complaint without proper verification, but that he makes the situation worse by further peddling this false story in the press.”
The woman admitted she made “a few mistakes” in remembering that night, but said she stood by her allegations.
Combs’ attorney, Teny R. Geragos, said in an emailed statement to The Associated Press on Saturday: “Yesterday, an attorney admitted that more than 50 people falsely claimed to be victims. Today, for the second time this week, a Buzbee plaintiff was unmasked. This is the beginning of the end of this shameful money grab.”
More than a hundred accusations against Combs
The litigation is part of a wave of sexual assault lawsuits filed against Combs while the hip-hop star remains in custody in New York awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.
The woman claimed that while she was in the limousine, she was asked to sign a confidentiality document. Once at the party, according to the complaint, she drank a drink that made her feel “dizzy” and went to a bedroom to lie down.
She said Combs and Jay-Z then burst into the room, along with another unnamed celebrity, and raped her. The woman said she eventually escaped the room, ran out of the house and called a nearby gas station for a ride.
Jay-Z, the 24-time Grammy Award-winning rapper, producer and music mogul, anonymously sued Mr. Buzbee last month, alleging that he was trying to blackmail the rapper by threatening to go public with the rape accusation. he did not accept a legal settlement. Jay-Z claimed that Mr Buzbee sent a letter to his lawyer appearing to seek a settlement, which had “the opposite effect” on him.
Mr. Buzbee previously said that the idea that he was trying to blackmail Jay-Z was “stupid and ridiculous” and that his letter was simply asking for confidential mediation in the dispute.
The attorney announced at a news conference in October that he represented some 120 people, men and women, with allegations of sexual misconduct against Combs.
His office, which set up a toll-free hotline for accusers, began filing a wave of lawsuits against the hip-hop mogul a few weeks later.
No bail
Combs was denied bail a third time last month. He has pleaded not guilty to charges that he coerced and abused women for years and will face trial in May.
Combs’ lawyers did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment.
Jay-Z and Combs are part of a generation of hip-hop titans who rose to prominence in the 2000s, becoming entrepreneurs with diverse skills and two of the richest rappers in the world. Earlier this year, Forbes estimated Jay-Z’s net worth at US$2.5 billion.
The artists have collaborated over the years, with Jay-Z featured on Combs’ debut album, No Way Outand Combs appearing on Jay-Z’s second album, In My Lifetime, Vol. 1.
Although they are frequently photographed together at events, they have also been business competitors. Diddy launched his record label Bad Boy Records around the same time Jay-Z launched his record label Roc-A-Fella.
