A lawsuit accusing JAY-Z and Diddy of raping a minor 25 years ago has been withdrawn by the plaintiff after much scrutiny over her claims.
On Friday (February 14), the anonymous woman’s lawyer, Tony Buzbee, filed a notice in federal New York court announcing their decision to voluntarily dismiss the suit.
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The lawsuit was dismissed without prejudice, meaning it can be refiled at a later date.
The filing notes that the woman’s legal team had discussed the matter with representatives for both JAY-Z and Diddy, who “acknowledge[d] and consent[ed] to this submission.”
Big news:
Attorney Tony Buzbee has dropped the rape lawsuit against Jay-Z.
"Counsel for Plaintiff have discussed his matter with counsel for each Defendant, who acknowledge and consent to this submission." pic.twitter.com/Uy8FkzDOKK
— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) February 14, 2025
JAY-Z, who had vehemently denied the disturbing allegations, celebrated the move as a “victory” while maintaining his innocence.
“Today is a victory. The frivolous, fictitous and appalling allegations have been dismissed. This civil suit was never going anywhere,” he said in a statement shared on social media by his Roc Nation company.
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“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, loves ones and I have endured can never be dismissed.”
The Brooklyn-bred billionaire also hit out at Buzbee, with whom he became embroiled in a separate legal battle after the rape lawsuit was filed.
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“This 1-800 lawyer gets to file a suit hiding behind Jane Doe, and when they quickly realize that the money grab is going to fail, they get to walk away with no repercussions. The system has failed,” he continued.
“The court must protect victims, OF COURSE, while with the same ethical responsibility, the courts must protect the innocent from being accused without a shred of evidence. May the truth prevail for all victims and those falsely accused equally.”
— Roc Nation (@RocNation) February 14, 2025
Hov’s lawyer Alex Spiro added in a statement of his own: “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, he triumphed and cleared his name.”
Diddy’s legal team also welcomed the dismissal, saying: “Today’s complete dismissal without a settlement by the 1-800 attorney is yet another confirmation that these lawsuits are built on falsehoods, not facts.
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“For months, we have seen case after case filed by individuals hiding behind anonymity, pushed forward by an attorney more focused on media headlines than legal merit. Just like this claim, the others will fall apart because there is no truth to them.”
They added: “Sean Combs has never sexually assaulted or trafficked anyone — man or woman, adult or minor. No number of lawsuits, sensationalized allegations, or media theatrics will change that reality.”
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The lawsuit accused the two rap legends of raping a 13-year-old girl at a party in 2000 following the MTV Video Music Awards. It was originally filed in October 2024 naming only Diddy as a defendant, before JAY-Z was added as a defendant two months later.
Hov quickly and forcefully shut down the claims, calling it a “blackmail” attempt from a “deplorable human,” referring to Buzbee.
Spiro also refuted the allegations, holding a press conference in December where he presented various pieces of evidence poking holes in the woman’s story.
The plaintiff herself later admitted in an interview with NBC News that she had made “some mistakes” when recalling the alleged incident.
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“Today’s investigative report proves this ‘attorney’ Buzbee filed a false complaint against me in the pursuit of money and fame,” JAY-Z said in response. “This incident didn’t happen and yet he filed it in court and doubled down in the press. True Justice is coming.”
While Hov’s legal troubles have been resolved, the same can’t be said for Diddy who is currently in jail awaiting trial on sex trafficking and racketeering charges.
He is also facing over 40 civil lawsuits accusing him of sexual misconduct.
