Woman withdraws civil lawsuit against Jay-Z, Sean ‘Diddy' Combs alleging she was raped at age 13
An Alabama woman who said she was raped by rappers Jay-Z and Sean 'Diddy' Combs when she was 13 withdrew her civil lawsuit against both men on Friday, according to court filings.
The unidentified woman in December added Jay-Z, whose legal name is Shawn Carter, to a lawsuit she had filed against Combs in Manhattan federal court, alleging that she was attacked by the singers in 2000 after Combs' limo driver offered her a ride to an MTV Video Music Awards after-party.
Jay-Z, who vehemently denied the claims and tried to get extracted from the lawsuit, called the woman's decision to withdraw the lawsuit 'a victory' and said the 'fictional tale' she and her lawyers created was 'laughable.'
'The frivolous, fictious and appalling allegations have been dismissed,' he said in a statement posted on social media. 'This civil suit was without merit and never going anywhere.'
Combs remains jailed in New York awaiting a criminal trial on federal sex trafficking charges. He also faces a wave of sexual assault lawsuits, many of which were filed by the plaintiff's lawyer, Tony Buzbee, a Texas attorney who says his firm represents over 150 people, both men and women, who allege sexual abuse and exploitation by Combs.
Lawyers for Combs said dismissal of the lawsuit without a settlement confirmed that other lawsuits he is facing are built on falsehoods.
'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 said in a statement, adding that Combs 'has never sexually assaulted or trafficked anyone — man or woman, adult or minor.'
A message was left seeking comment from Buzbee.
Jay-Z and Combs are part of a generation of hip-hop titans who rose to prominence in the 2000s, emerging as wide-ranging entrepreneurs and two of the world's wealthiest rappers.
The artists have collaborated over the years, with Jay-Z being featured on Combs' debut album, 'No Way Out' and Combs appearing on Jay-Z's sophomore album, 'In My Lifetime, Vol. 1.'
Diddy launched his Bad Boy Records around the same time Jay-Z launched his Roc-A-Fella record label. The pair pair has been frequently photographed together at events.
Jay-Z has won 25 Grammys while Diddy has collected three trophies.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Forbes
9 hours ago
- Forbes
Bruno Mars Makes His Decade-Old Single A Global Smash Again
Bruno Mars places four songs on the Billboard Global 200 and Global Excl. U.S. charts this week, as ... More 'Locked Out of Heaven' returns and 'Just the Way You Are' surges. LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 02: Bruno Mars performs onstage during the 67th Annual GRAMMY Awards at Arena on February 02, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo byfor The Recording Academy) Bruno Mars is never absent from Billboard's global charts these days, whether he's pushing something brand new or fans are focusing their listening on the tracks that made him a superstar years ago. The singer-songwriter regularly fills multiple spaces on both the Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S., and this week is no exception, as the Grammy champion appears with several favorites – including one which rebounds onto both tallies. "Locked Out of Heaven" breaks back onto both Billboard's lists of the most consumed songs around the world and the most popular tunes globally, with U.S. streams and sales excluded. The decade-plus-old smash reenters the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. at No. 162, and it comes in at No. 174 on the Billboard Global 200. "Locked Out of Heaven" has already spent at least two years on both of these rankings. It even reaches the 104 week-milestone on the Billboard Global 200 as it returns. Despite its longevity, the track has never climbed into the top 40 on either list. Mars sits just below the top spot on both rankings with a pair of smashes — ones which have already become some of the biggest hits in the history of these rosters. "Die With a Smile," his collaboration with Lady Gaga, remains steady in the runner-up space on both the Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. At the same time, "Apt," which saw Mars team up with Blackpink star Rosé, is a non-mover in third place on the two rankings. In between "Die With a Smile," "Apt.," and "Locked Out of Heaven" comes "Just the Way You Are," Mars's first solo smash, and it is growing in popularity around the world, which happens from time to time. This week, it leaps more than 30 spaces on both the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. and Billboard Global 200, settling at Nos. 145 and 156, respectively. Just like "Locked Out of Heaven," the track has lived on these lists for a long time but never managed to become a top 40 smash.
The Intercept
11 hours ago
- The Intercept
Why Did NBC Delete Its 'Dateline' Episode on Diddy?
On May 11, NBC premiered a 'Dateline' episode describing Combs's various past legal entanglements. Less than a month later, the episode has now disappeared both from NBC's website as well as from Peacock, NBC's streaming service. The removal comes as NBC and Peacock face a defamation lawsuit from Combs over a separate news documentary. The Dateline episode, titled 'Sean Combs on Trial,' has been entirely wiped from the networks' official streaming platforms, with only promotional materials remaining scattered online, such as a trailer, a publicity piece, and official social media posts. The episode's logline described it as a 'report on Sean 'Diddy' Combs' life.' The show summarizes Combs's rise to fame and his litany of past legal troubles, culminating with the present trial over charges of racketeering, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution. Combs has pleaded not guilty to the charges and rejected a plea deal. An NBC spokesperson told The Intercept that once the trial began on May 12, the 'Dateline' episode that aired the previous day had become outdated. NBC would not elaborate on which specific portions of the episode had become outdated and warranted the episode being taken down, since the bulk of the program is not about the current trial. Only the first three and last seven minutes of the 41-minute episode focus on Combs's present indictment. NBC also declined to comment on whether or how often Dateline episodes removes episodes because they have become outdated, and what criteria is used before scrubbing a show from NBC's platforms. 'Dateline' episodes that air before trials don't always appear to be removed from the program's official streaming portals. For instance, the fourth episode of the show's current 33rd season, 'The Night of the Nor'easter,' focuses on Karen Read, who stands accused of killing her boyfriend. The episode originally premiered on October 18, 2024 — some three months after Read's initial trial was declared a mistrial; a retrial began in April 2025. Although Read's second trial is presently ongoing, the original 'Dateline' episode remains online despite presenting now outdated information. For instance, the episode mentions that Read's lawyers are appealing a judge's decision to reject their attempt to dismiss several of the charges. The appeal was denied in February 2025, four months after the 'Dateline' episode aired. The 'Dateline' episode that aired two days before the Combs episode, 'The Terrible Night on King Road,' also discusses an upcoming trial. Bryan Kohberger, who is accused of the killings of four University of Idaho students, is scheduled to stand trial in August. The episode remains online on Peacock, although there have been new developments since the episode aired. The case judge issued a document hold order, as the episode contained nonpublic information about the case that the judge believes someone either in law enforcement or on the prosecution team provided Dateline with. Kohberger's attorneys also requested a delay in the trial, citing the 'Dateline' episode. In February, Combs filed a lawsuit against NBC and Peacock, seeking a minimum of $100 million in damages owing to allegedly false and defamatory statements against Combs in another NBC documentary, 'Diddy: The Making of a Bad Boy.' The complaint was filed three months before the Dateline 'Sean Combs on Trial' episode aired. NBC would not comment on the record about whether the removal of the Dateline episode was related to the defamation lawsuit. Combs's lawyers did not respond to a request for a comment. Dateline continues to host a daily podcast about the trial. NBC has also joined a number of other media outlets in asking the court to allow cameras inside the courtroom. The Combs defamation suit against NBC comes amid a sweep of prominent public figures filing cases against the media. Kash Patel, who was selected by Trump to be the reigning FBI director, previously sued CNN for defamation for claiming that he spread conspiracy theories about then-President Joe Biden. That defamation suit was dismissed, though Patel is now filing a new defamation suit, this time against MSNBC over reporting on the amount of time he allegedly spent at nightclubs. Trump has recently announced that he is suing CBS for defamation, though the threatened lawsuit doesn't appear to have come to fruition as of yet. Parent company Paramount has also reportedly offered $15 million to settle another suit by Trump against CBS for allegedly deceptive editing practices. In court on Tuesday, meanwhile, one of Combs's exes testified that 'Dateline' is Combs's favorite TV show.
USA Today
11 hours ago
- USA Today
Beyoncé wishes Jay-Z happy Father's Day, honors dads during fifth show in London
Hear this story AI-assisted summary Beyoncé performed her fifth "Cowboy Carter" tour show in London at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. She acknowledged Father's Day and gave a shout-out to her husband, Jay-Z. The tour includes 39 songs and features various music genres, including country. The final show is scheduled for July 26 in Las Vegas. Beyoncé Knowles-Carter delivered her fifth show on her "Cowboy Carter" tour in London, and she took a moment to wish husband Jay-Z happy Father's Day and honor all the fathers in the building before the night ended. The Grammy-winning singer kicked off her June 14 show at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium around 7:41 p.m local time. The show marked her fifth of six shows at the stadium on her Cowboy Carter and the Rodeo Chitlin' Circuit Tour. Her last show in London is set to take place June 16, before Beyoncé heads to Paris for three nights. She started the show thanking fans for their loyalty and support for her nearly three-decade career. "Every time I see all of you guys dressed up and your beautiful signs, I just feel so much gratitude inside," she told the roaring crowd as she opened the show. As fans know, Beyoncé first debuted her "Cowboy Carter" tour at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on April 28 with 39 songs on the set list. Her shows have been filled with family, fashion, different music genres, and most notably country music and cultural commentary. And Saturday's concert was no different as she debuted more looks and delivered a high-powered show. Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. Toward the end of the show, Beyoncé made sure to honor Father's Day, which takes place June 15. "I want to wish all the fathers a very, very happy Father's Day," she said, and then she took a moment to give the hip-hop mogul a special shoutout as she held up the Roc diamond hand symbol, as a reference to Jay-Z and his entertainment company Roc Nation. During her fourth show in London, Beyoncé also took a moment to wish her twins, Sir and Rumi Carter, a happy birthday onstage. She promoted fans to join in the sweet moment as Rumi stood on stage. The nine-city tour will span the U.S. and Europe with the grand finale taking place in Las Vegas on July 26. Follow Caché McClay, the USA TODAY Network's Beyoncé Knowles-Carter reporter, on Instagram, TikTok and X as @cachemcclay.
