LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) American rapper, Jay-Z, has been named in a lawsuit alleging he and fellow music mogul Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs raped a 13-year-old girl at an after-party following the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards in New York.
According to the New York Times, the lawsuit, filed by an unnamed plaintiff, claims the assault occurred after she consumed a drink that left her feeling disoriented.
The accusations against Jay-Z were added to an ongoing civil suit initially filed in October.
The plaintiff had previously accused Diddy and an unnamed celebrity of sexually assaulting her at the event.
In the amended filing on Sunday, she identified Jay-Z as the second alleged perpetrator, claiming the two men took turns assaulting her.
The lawsuit comes amid a wave of legal battles facing Diddy, who is contending with federal sex trafficking and racketeering charges, as well as at least 30 other lawsuits accusing him of sexual misconduct.
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Diddy has denied all allegations and pleaded.
The 55-year-old businessman responded forcefully to the claims, calling them “idiotic” and accusing the plaintiff’s lawyer, Tony Buzbee, of attempting to blackmail him.
In a detailed statement, the billionaire rapper said he received a demand letter from Mr Buzbee, which he described as a calculated attempt to secure a settlement.
“What he had calculated was that the nature of these allegations and the public scrutiny would make me want to settle,” Jay-Z said. “No, sir, it had the opposite effect!”
He also questioned the credibility of the lawsuit, urging the lawyer to pursue criminal charges if the allegations were true.
“Whomever would commit such a crime against a minor should be locked away, would you not agree?” he said, adding that the civil suit appeared to prioritise profit over justice.
Mr Buzbee, a Houston-based attorney known for high-profile litigation, has reportedly filed more than 20 lawsuits against Diddy, using hotlines, social media, and press conferences to encourage alleged victims to come forward.
Jay-Z expressed his frustration over the personal toll of the allegations, noting the impact on his family. “My wife and I will have to sit our children down… and explain the cruelty and greed of people,” he said, lamenting the “loss of innocence” his children may face due to the public scrutiny.
