Accuser Withdraws Sexual Assault Lawsuit Against Jay-Z and Diddy

Jay-Z deems dismissal a "victory" while Diddy's team maintains confidence in his innocence amid ongoing legal battles.

In a significant turn of events, a lawsuit accusing Sean "Diddy" Combs and Jay-Z of raping a 13-year-old girl in 2000 has been voluntarily dismissed, as revealed in a legal filing submitted on Friday in New York. The anonymous plaintiff, referred to as Jane Doe, withdrew the case through her attorney, Tony Buzbee, who is representing multiple plaintiffs in similar allegations against Combs.

The court filing noted that the plaintiff was dismissing the action "with prejudice," meaning the case cannot be refiled in its current format. In a statement from Roc Nation, Jay-Z, whose legal name is Shawn Carter, declared the ruling a "victory," characterizing the previous accusations as "frivolous, fictitious, and appalling."

"The allegations were without merit from the start," Jay-Z remarked, expressing deep concern over the trauma endured by his family. He underscored the importance of protecting the innocent and asserting that the court system must safeguard individuals from baseless accusations.

Further emphasizing his stance, Jay-Z's attorney Alex Spiro remarked that the case "never should have been brought" and praised Jay-Z for refusing to settle or pay any amount related to the allegations.

Jane Doe initially filed her lawsuit against Diddy in October, later adding Jay-Z's name in December, claiming that the two assaulted her following an MTV Video Music Awards afterparty. Jay-Z vehemently rejected these claims and indicated he received "blackmail" communications aimed at coercing a settlement, which only strengthened his resolve to confront the accusations publicly.

In December, Jane Doe's credibility was questioned when she acknowledged in an interview that her account contained unclear details, stating, "I have made some mistakes. I may have made a mistake in identifying." Last month, Jay-Z submitted a formal request for the case's dismissal, citing inconsistencies in the accuser's narrative. The request was granted by U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres, resulting in the lawsuit's dismissal.

While Jay-Z has successfully cleared his name from this particular legal challenge, Diddy remains embroiled in ongoing litigation, facing over three dozen civil suits. In response to the dismissal of the lawsuit, Diddy’s legal team asserted their belief in his innocence and criticized the lawsuits as lacking merit, indicating optimism that similar cases will fail to withstand scrutiny in court.

Diddy is currently being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn on federal charges related to racketeering and sex trafficking, facing multiple denials for bail and set to remain in custody until his scheduled trial on May 5, 2025.