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The woman who accused the rappers Jay-Z and Sean “Diddy” Combs about sexually assaulting her when she was 13 at an after-party acknowledged some inconsistencies in her story, while her attorney said he would continue to investigate her claims.
The unnamed woman described being driven away RochesterNew York, do New York City for the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards, then Combs’ limo driver offering her a ride to the after party, NBC News published on Friday. She claimed to have spoken to the musicians Benji Madden and his brother at the party, and her father picked her up after the alleged assault.
But a rep for the Maddens confirmed to NBC that they were touring the Midwest during the VMAs, while her father said he doesn’t remember the more than five-hour drive home. The woman’s friend who allegedly drove her to the awards has since died, NBC reported.
The woman first sued Combs, alleging she was raped at an after party, then amended the complaint on Sunday to include a new allegation that Jay-Z, whose legal name is Shawn Carter, was also at the party and sexually assaulted her.
Jay-Z said in a statement that the article proved that Tony Buzbee, a Houston personal injury attorney, filed a false lawsuit against him for money and fame.
“This incident didn’t happen, and he took it to court and doubled down on it in the press,” he said. “True justice is coming. We fight FOR victory, not FOR victory. This was over before it started. This 1-800 lawyer doesn’t get it yet, but soon.”
Buzbee told The Associated in an email that if someone raises a new issue that didn’t exist before, it’s her legal team’s job to continue gathering facts and evidence.
Jay-Z’s lawyer, Alex Spiro, asked the court to dismiss the case, saying in a statement: “It is astonishing that a lawyer would not only file such a serious complaint without proper investigation, but would make matters worse by further sharing this false story in the press .”
The woman admitted she made “some mistakes” when recalling that night, but said she stood by her allegations.
The lawsuit is part of a wave of sexual assault lawsuits filed against Combs as the hip-hop mogul remains in custody in New York awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.
The unnamed woman said that while she was in the limo, she was asked to sign a non-disclosure document. When she was at the party, the lawsuit alleges, she drank a drink that left her feeling “lured and groggy” and went to the bedroom to lie down.
She said Combs and Jay-Z then burst into the room, along with another unnamed celebrity, and raped her. The woman said she eventually ran out of the room, ran out of the house and called for a ride from a nearby gas station.
Jay-Z, the 24-time Grammy-winning rapper, record producer and music mogul, anonymously sued Buzbee last month, alleging he tried to blackmail the rapper by threatening to make the rape allegations public if he didn’t agree to a legal settlement. Jay-Z said Buzbee sent a letter to his lawyer that appeared to be asking for a settlement, which had the “opposite effect” on him.
Buzbee previously said the idea that he was trying to blackmail Jay-Z was “stupid and ridiculous” and that his letter was simply asking for confidential mediation in the lawsuit.
Buzbee announced at a press conference in October that he is representing about 120 people, men and women, with sexual misconduct allegations against Combs.
His firm, which set up a toll-free hotline for the allegations, began a wave of lawsuits against the hip-hop mogul a few weeks later.
Combs was denied bail for the third time last month. He has pleaded not guilty to charges that he coerced and abused women for years and will face trial in May.
Attorneys for Combs did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment.
Jay-Z and Combs are part of a generation of hip-hop titans who rose to prominence in the 2000s, emerging as major entrepreneurs and two of the world’s richest rappers. Earlier this year, Forbes estimated Jay-Z’s net worth at $2.5 billion.
The artists have collaborated over the years, with Jay-Z appearing on Combs’ debut album “No Way Out” and Combs appearing on Jay-Z’s second album “In My Lifetime, Vol. 1.”
Although they were often photographed together at events, they were also business competitors. Diddy started his Bad Boy Records around the same time Jay-Z started his Roc-A-Fella label.