Houston attorney Tony Buzbee responds to Jay-Z’s statement after lawsuit accuses rapper of rape

HOUSTON – An amended lawsuit filed Sunday accuses rapper Jay-Z of raping a 13-year-old girl in 2000 allegedly along with Sean “Diddy” Combs.

The anonymous accuser, identified only as “Jane Doe,” said it happened after she was driven to an MTV Video Music Awards after-party.

• Jay-Z accused in civil lawsuit of raping 13-year-old girl in 2000 along with Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs

The federal lawsuit, which was filed in October by Houston attorney Tony Buzbee, named Sean “Diddy” Combs as a defendant. It was refiled on Sunday to include Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter.

After the lawsuit was filed, Jay-Z and Roc Nation responded with a statement on X.

“My lawyer received a blackmail attempt, called a demand letter, from a “lawyer” named Tony Buzbee. What he had calculated was the nature of these allegations and the public scrutiny would make me want to settle. No sir, it had the opposite effect! It made me want to expose you for the fraud you are in a VERY public fashion. So no, I will not give you ONE RED PENNY!!” Carter said in part of a lengthy statement. “These allegations are so heinous in nature that I implore you to file a criminal complaint, not a civil one!! Whomever would commit such a crime against a minor should be locked away, would you not agree?”

Carter continues in the statement, expressing concern for the effect the lawsuit will have on his family and children.

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“My only heartbreak is for my family. My wife and I will have to sit our children down, one of whom is at the age where her friends will surely see the press and ask questions about the nature of these claims, and explain the cruelty and greed of people,” he wrote.

Tony Buzbee responded with his own statement, alleging Carter had tried to silence him and his client.

“Regarding the Jay Z case and his efforts to silence my clients: Mr. Carter previously denied being the one who sued me and my firm. He filed his frivolous case under a pseudonym. What he fails to say in his recent statement is my firm sent his lawyer a demand letter on behalf of an alleged victim and that victim never demanded a penny from him. Instead, she only sought a confidential mediation. Since I sent the letter on her behalf, Mr. Carter has not only sued me, but he has tried to bully and harass me and this plaintiff. His conduct has had the opposite impact. She is emboldened. I’m very proud of her resolve,” Buzbee said on X. “As far as the allegations in the complaint filed, we will let the filing speak for itself and will litigate the facts in court, not in the media.”