Jay-Z Accuser Recants False Claims

Accuser Reverses Allegations Against Jay-Z

An anonymous woman who previously sued Jay-Z for sexual assault has formally recanted her claims, stating in court documents that she never met the rapper. The woman, known as Jane Doe, filed a declaration in which she wrote, 'Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter never raped me. I have never met or spoken to Mr. Carter.' She further stated that Mr. Carter never engaged in any inappropriate conduct toward her.

The recantation comes after the woman initially filed a lawsuit in October 2024 alleging she was drugged and raped by Jay-Z and Sean 'Diddy' Combs at a party following the MTV Video Music Awards in 2000. She claimed the assault occurred while a third person watched. In her new declaration, she stated, 'There is no truth to any of my claims against Mr Carter.'

The woman explained that her initial lawsuit was filed without her knowledge by her lawyers at the Buzbee Law Firm. She stated that the firm filed the complaint 'without conducting any independent investigation, background inquiry, or due diligence, and without obtaining any corroboration of the allegations.'

Rapper Sues Accuser and Lawyers

Jay-Z, whose legal name is Shawn Carter, has vehemently denied the allegations, calling them a 'blackmail attempt' and describing them as 'frivolous, fictitious and appalling allegations.' In February 2025, Carter sued the woman and her lawyers, accusing them of conspiring to pressure him into a secret financial settlement.

The rapper's lawsuit alleges that after he refused to pay an 'extortionate demand letter' sent by the law firm, the lawsuit was amended to include him. A malicious prosecution lawsuit against the law firm is ongoing in New York. Carter filed a notice Thursday saying he was voluntarily dismissing the woman as a defendant in his lawsuit.

Carter expressed that the 'trauma' he, his family, and loved ones have endured 'can never be dismissed.' The woman has been removed from Carter's lawsuit, and she stated she had not received any money from the rapper or anyone acting on his behalf.

Context and Current Status

The woman said she saw a Facebook ad in September or October 2024 looking for people with sexual assault claims against Combs, which triggered memories of being raped as a teenager. She was connected with the Buzbee Law Firm, but she said she did not authorize the lawsuit before it was filed.

Tony Buzbee, the lawyer who filed the initial suit, told Rolling Stone that he had not seen the woman's new declaration. He stated, 'If for some reason now she is claiming she lied to us and the court, that's new information.' Buzbee continues to represent other plaintiffs who are suing Combs for sexual assault.

Combs, who is currently serving a four-year prison sentence for prostitution-related charges, has denied the woman's claims. His lawyer described the lawsuits as 'shameless publicity stunts, designed to extract payments from celebrities who fear having lies spread about them.'

Sources and context

bbc.co.uk — Jay-Z rape accuser says her allegation was false

cbsnews.com — Jane Doe who accused Jay-Z of sexual assault formally recants her claims