A woman who accused Jay-Z of raping her when she was 13 has formally withdrawn her allegations in a Manhattan federal court declaration, stating there was no truth to her claims and that she had never met the rapper.
The woman, identified in court documents as Jane Doe, dropped her 2024 civil lawsuit against Jay-Z (Shawn Carter) and Sean "Diddy" Combs in February 2025, according to filings reviewed by multiple outlets. In a 12-page declaration filed on March 6, 2025, she stated: "Shawn 'Jay-Z' Carter never raped me. I have never met or spoken to Mr. Carter. Mr. Carter never engaged in any inappropriate conduct toward me whatsoever."
She added: "There is no truth to any of my claims against Mr. Carter." The declaration also dismissed allegations that Combs was involved, stating: "My claims that Mr. Carter and Mr. Combs raped me while a third celebrity watched are false."
Immediate Action & Core Facts
1. Formal Recantation in Court
The woman’s March 6 declaration is the first official, court-filed statement confirming she withdrew her allegations and admitted they were false. The filing was submitted in response to Jay-Z’s countersuit, which accuses her and her legal team of malicious prosecution and defamation.
2. Lawsuit Dropped, Counterclaims Proceed
The original lawsuit, filed in October 2024 and amended in December 2024 to include Jay-Z, was dropped in February 2025. Jay-Z’s legal team confirmed in a February 2025 filing that the woman had been dismissed as a defendant in his countersuit. Jay-Z’s lawsuit against the woman and her attorneys remains active.
Deeper Dive & Context
Origins of the Allegations
The woman’s initial lawsuit alleged that she was drugged and raped by Jay-Z and Combs at a 2000 MTV Video Music Awards afterparty when she was 13. She claimed she became lightheaded after accepting a drink, then alleged that Combs, Jay-Z, and a third person entered the room and assaulted her.
However, in her recantation, she stated that her memories were triggered by a Facebook ad seeking individuals with sexual assault claims against Combs. She said she contacted the firm behind the ad—the Buzbee Law Firm—and that her lawyers filed the lawsuit without her knowledge in October 2024. She claimed she later told her attorneys that she doubted her claims and had never attended the alleged party, but the lawsuit was amended to include Jay-Z in December 2024 regardless.
The Buzbee Law Firm, led by attorney Tony Buzbee, has not publicly commented on the recantation. Buzbee had previously filed multiple lawsuits against Combs, including allegations related to a federal sex trafficking investigation in which Combs was acquitted of the most serious charges in March 2024.
Jay-Z’s Response & Legal Action
Jay-Z has denied all allegations since they first emerged in 2024, calling the claims part of an extortion attempt. In a February 2025 statement, he said the allegations were a "fictional tale" and that the lawsuit was "without merit." His legal team has since sued the woman and her attorneys for malicious prosecution and defamation, seeking damages.
In his countersuit, Jay-Z’s legal team argues that the lawsuit was filed without merit and that the woman’s recantation validates their claims of extortion. The case is ongoing, with the woman now removed as a defendant in Jay-Z’s countersuit.
Combs’ Legal Status
Sean Combs is currently serving a 50-month prison sentence for transportation for prostitution charges, unrelated to the 2024 allegations. He was acquitted of federal sex trafficking and racketeering charges in March 2024, though he remains incarcerated on separate state charges.
Broader Implications
The case has drawn attention due to Jay-Z’s high-profile status and the timing of the allegations, which surfaced amid ongoing legal scrutiny of Combs. The recantation raises questions about the origins of the lawsuit and the role of legal representation in high-profile defamation cases. Jay-Z’s countersuit could set a precedent for how frivolous lawsuits are handled in cases involving public figures.
Key Dates
- October 2024: Lawsuit filed against Jay-Z and Combs.
- December 2024: Amended to include Jay-Z.
- February 2025: Lawsuit dropped; Jay-Z files countersuit.
- March 6, 2025: Woman files recantation declaration.