Rapper and entrepreneur Jay-Z, whose real name is Sean Carter, has been accused of assaulting a 13-year-old girl in 2000 alongside Sean "Diddy" Combs, as reported by Billboard.
The allegations, presented in a civil lawsuit filed on Sunday in a New York federal court, come from an accuser identified as Jane Doe.
The lawsuit was filed by attorney Tony Buzbee, according to ANI. Jay-Z has denied the claims, labeling them as a "blackmail attempt."
Allegations in the Lawsuit
The lawsuit alleges that Jay-Z and Combs drugged the victim at an afterparty following the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards before the alleged assault occurred.
The accuser claims she was pressured into signing a non-disclosure agreement and was given a drink that left her feeling disoriented.
It also states that another celebrity witnessed the incident but failed to intervene, while other attendees at the party did nothing to prevent the alleged assault.
Jay-Z’s Response
In a statement released on Sunday, Jay-Z rejected the allegations, calling them an extortion attempt. He criticized attorney Tony Buzbee, accusing him of exploiting victims for financial gain.
"You've made a serious error in judgment thinking all 'celebrities' operate the same way. I’m from Brooklyn, where we protect children and uphold strict codes of honor," Jay-Z stated, as reported by Billboard. He vowed to fight the case publicly.
Background
This lawsuit builds on a previous case that initially named only Sean Combs.
It comes amid other allegations against Combs, including a federal indictment in September accusing him of running a criminal operation to satisfy personal gratification.