The civil lawsuit against Jay-Z, accusing him of raping a 13-year-old girl back in 2000, has finally been dismissed. The lawsuit, anonymously filed by Jane Doe last October 2024, had previously been dismissed “with prejudice” last Feb. 14, 2025, so it can’t ever be filed again.
The lawsuit alleged Sean “Diddy” Combs and Jay-Z (real name Shawn Carter) had sexaully assaulted the woman at an MTV Video Music Awards party back in 2000. The woman had alleged she had been drugged, attacked by Combs, and two other unknown attackers. Subsequently, later this month, December 2024, also named as defendant, had charged that she had entered into a “conspiracy of intimidation, bullying, and harassment” to cover up her claim. But the suit has now been dismissed “with prejudice” – it cannot ever be brought.
Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, issued a statement via Roc Nation social media platform, indicating relief, calling the acquittal “victory” and outlining the emotional impact the case had had upon his family.
“Today is a win. The baseless, fantastical, and disgusting lies have been dismissed. The civil suit had no substance and wasn’t going anywhere. Their fantastical narrative, if it wasn’t so serious, was comical. I wouldn’t want this trial by ordeal visited upon my worst enemy, The agony my wife, my children, my relatives, and I have had to endure cannot ever be brushed aside.”
Jay-Z added.
The lawsuit had previously been filed back in October of 2024, accusing Combs, as well as Jay-Z, of drugging and raping Jane Doe while one other celebrity looked on. Two months later, Doe added the name of Jay-Z to the lawsuit.
Jay-Z’s lawyer, Alex Spiro, issued a statement saying,
“The false case against JAY-Z, that never should have been brought, has been dismissed with prejudice. 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 1 red penny, he triumphed and cleared his name.”
Tony Buzbee, attorney for Jane Doe, refused to comment on the dismissal. Lawyers for Combs, on the other hand, did not shy away from utilizing the dismissal as an indication that the allegations had no substance.
The case’s dismissal follows several months of court papers and public statements. Earlier, Jay-Z had accused Jane Doe’s attorney of attempting to blackmail him out of an out-of-court settlement, an accusation that Jay-Z strenuously denied.
Doe had admitted she had committed some inaccuracies while describing the incident, one she had referred to as “catastrophic.” But she maintained that inconsistencies in the story did not indicate that the accusation had not happened.
Despite the case being dismissed, there are still more than 40 civil cases against Combs over other charges. Since September 2024, he has been imprisoned at the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center, charged with sex trafficking, alongside racketeering. His trial has an expected starting time of May 2025.
The dismissal of this suit against Jay-Z and Combs is an interesting watershed in the long, bitter legal battles over these two prominent individuals. It also serves as an indicator of the complexities and emotional burdens these legal processes visit upon both defendant and those close to them.
Jay-Z has always prided himself on writing powerful lyrics and remaining authentic to fans. In this trial, he stood by his innocence and used his platform to support truth and justice, further committing himself to work and fans. Now, as the judicial fallout dies down, Jay-Z can get back to concentrating on work and creative process, drawing strength from this trial to continue creating powerful, meaningful lyrics that engage fans. with his audience.
