American rapper Jay-Z has broken his silence regarding the civil sexual assault case filed against him, which accuses him of raping a 13-year-old girl alongside music mogul Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs in 2000.
In a statement shared through Roc Nation X, the 55-year-old artist vehemently denied the allegations, condemning them as “heinous” and “idiotic.”
The lawsuit, initially filed in October, claims that the assault occurred at an after-party following the MTV Video Music Awards in September 2000.
Jay-Z was added to the lawsuit after it was expanded to include several anonymous complaints. While some of the plaintiffs dropped out due to the potential exposure of their identities, the victim, a now-adult woman, was granted the ability to pursue the case under anonymity.
In his public statement, Jay-Z criticized Texas attorney Tony Buzbee, who represents the anonymous accuser.
The rapper accused Buzbee of attempting to extort him by using the allegations for personal gain.
“My lawyer received a blackmail attempt, called a demand letter, from a ‘lawyer’ named Tony Buzbee,” Jay-Z wrote, explaining that Buzbee’s intent was to capitalize on the public attention surrounding the case in hopes of forcing a settlement.
Jay-Z made it clear that he would not give in to these demands. “No sir, it had the opposite effect! It made me want to expose you for the fraud you are in a VERY public fashion,” he said, challenging Buzbee to file criminal charges if the accusations were legitimate.
The rapper also questioned Buzbee’s integrity and reputation, even alleging that the lawyer had a history of similar actions.
Jay-Z concluded his statement by expressing confidence in his ability to handle the situation, adding, “I look forward to showing you just how different I am.”
As the case continues, Jay-Z remains firm in his denial of the allegations, calling for proper justice if the claims were truly as serious as they were being portrayed.
