An attorney representing Jay-Z in a recent rape allegation outlined a series of evidence on Monday, asserting that the accuser’s claims are “provably, demonstrably false.”
The allegation, brought by an unnamed woman last week, accuses Jay-Z and Sean “Diddy” Combs of sexually assaulting her in 2000 when she was 13 years old. The alleged incident occurred at an after-party for the MTV Music Awards. The woman, who initially described the incident in an interview with NBC News, has since acknowledged inconsistencies in her story.
Speaking at Roc Nation’s headquarters in New York, Jay-Z’s attorney, Alex Spiro, contested the claims, stating they are based on an “impossible timeline” and reference a location that does not exist. According to Spiro, the lawsuit alleges the assault occurred at a “large white residence with a U-shaped driveway,” yet photographic evidence places both Jay-Z, whose legal name is Shawn Carter, and Combs at a nightclub following the award show.
The woman claims she left her home in Rochester by sneaking out through a window and hitching a ride to the MTV Music Awards with a friend, who has since passed away. She said she watched the event on a jumbotron outside the venue before befriending a limousine driver who took her to the alleged house party.
The accuser further alleged that after being raped by the two music moguls, she fled the house and called her father from a nearby gas station for a ride home.
Spiro dismissed the account as implausible, noting that the drive from Rochester to New York City would have taken five hours, requiring her to leave home by 3 p.m. He also cited permits and photographs showing there was no jumbotron outside the award show in 2000. Furthermore, the woman’s father stated he does not recall driving to New York City to pick her up.
“It’s not just that this story is a lie and that it’s not true; it’s provably, demonstrably false,” Spiro said. “This never happened.”
The lawsuit was filed shortly before the expiration of the Adult Survivors Act, a New York law granting victims of sexual abuse a one-year window to file civil claims regardless of the statute of limitations.
The allegations against Jay-Z were added to an earlier complaint the woman had filed against Combs. The revised lawsuit includes claims that Jay-Z participated in the alleged assault, with a third unnamed celebrity reportedly witnessing the incident.
This lawsuit adds to a series of sexual assault claims against Combs, who is currently in custody in New York on federal sex trafficking charges. Combs has pleaded not guilty, with a trial scheduled for May.
Tony Buzbee, a Houston-based personal injury attorney representing the accuser, has filed numerous claims of sexual misconduct against Combs on behalf of over 120 individuals. Last month, Jay-Z anonymously sued Buzbee, accusing him of blackmail by threatening to publicize the rape allegations unless a settlement was reached. Buzbee refuted the claim, asserting that his communication was an attempt to arrange a confidential mediation.
In a statement last week, Jay-Z expressed his support for genuine victims of sexual assault, stating, “My heart and support go out to true victims in the world.”
On Monday, Spiro accused Buzbee of exploiting the woman’s vulnerability, stating, “This undermines the voices of real victims.”
Buzbee, in an emailed response, maintained his client’s credibility, stating the woman was referred to his firm by another law firm and vetted by four attorneys. “Courts exist to resolve factual disputes,” Buzbee said. “Our client remains adamant about her claim.”
