Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter’s attorney, Alex Spiro, has filed a motion asking a federal judge to deny the anonymity request of a woman accusing the hip-hop mogul of raping her in 2000 when she was 13 years old. The woman, identified as “Jane Doe,” has also accused rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs of participating in the alleged assault.
Spiro’s filing argues that the accuser’s choice to remain anonymous undermines the legitimacy of her claims, stating that the lawsuit’s anonymity “is inconsistent with a genuine effort to determine the truth or falsity of these allegations.” He suggested that the lawsuit could be intended to “procure a quick, extortionate settlement” rather than pursue justice.
Spiro further requested either the dismissal of the allegations or the disclosure of the plaintiff’s identity, emphasizing that it is unjust for the accuser to tarnish Carter’s reputation without revealing her identity.
Tony Buzbee, the Texas-based attorney representing the accuser, defended the anonymity request and dismissed Spiro’s claims of extortion as “foolish.” Buzbee argued that demand letters like the one sent to Carter are a common legal practice, calling the accusations of extortion an attempt to shift focus away from the case.
The lawsuit, filed in New York’s Southern District, alleges the assault occurred after the accuser was taken to an afterparty following the MTV Video Music Awards in 2000. According to the suit:
– A limousine driver working for Combs invited the accuser, then 13, to the party, saying she “fit what Diddy was looking for.”
– Upon arriving at the party, the accuser signed a document she believed to be a nondisclosure agreement and consumed a drink that left her feeling disoriented.
– She alleges she was taken to a room where Jay-Z and Combs raped her while an unnamed female celebrity watched.
The lawsuit claims the accuser resisted performing oral sex on Combs by hitting him in the neck, after which she escaped and called her father from a gas station.
The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages under New York’s Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Act.
Jay-Z has vehemently denied the allegations, calling them “heinous” and accusing Buzbee of unprofessional conduct. In a public statement, Jay-Z challenged the accuser to file criminal charges if her claims were genuine.
Sean “Diddy” Combs, who faces additional lawsuits for alleged assault and racketeering, has also denied the allegations. His legal representatives referred to the lawsuits as “shameless publicity stunts” meant to exploit the public status of high-profile figures like Combs.
The case adds to mounting legal challenges for Combs, who is currently in custody on unrelated charges and awaiting trial. It also underscores the complexities of balancing anonymity for sexual assault survivors with the rights of those accused, especially in high-profile cases involving public figures.
