Jay-Z sues woman who accused him of rape before dropping claim
Jay-Z has sued the woman who accused him of raping her, in a now-withdrawn complaint.
Sky News’ US partner NBC News reported the 55-year-old music mogul had launched a defamation lawsuit against the woman.
The American rapper reportedly said the woman and the lawyers representing her “were soullessly motivated by greed, in abject disregard of the truth” and alleged that they caused harm to his personal and professional reputation.
Jay-Z, whose legal name is Shawn Carter, is reported to have filed the lawsuit in a federal court in Alabama, where the woman, referred to in the lawsuit only as “Jane Doe”, lives.
The initial allegation made by the woman centred on Jay-Z and Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs.
It was withdrawn with prejudice last month – meaning it cannot be brought back to court.
At the time the lawsuit was withdrawn, Jay-Z said: “Today is a victory. These frivolous, fictitious and appalling allegations have been dismissed.
“The fictional tale they created was laughable, if not for the seriousness of the claims. I would not wish this experience on anyone.”
In her lawsuit, in New York, the woman originally accused Carter and Combs of raping her at an after party following the 2000 MTV Music Video Awards.
His lawsuit cited inconsistencies in the woman’s account that were reported by NBC News.
This reportedly included claiming her father had picked her up for a ride home, but him saying he didn’t recall making the drive – of more than five hours – at the time.
She also claimed to speak to musician Benji Madden at the party, but a representative for Madden said that neither Benji nor his brother Joel attended the 2000 VMAs and that they were on tour in the Midwest at the time, NBC News added.
Jay-Z is seeking a jury trial and unspecified damages.
However, in a separate legal filing Monday, the woman said she was sticking with her story, NBC News reported.
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Combs is currently in prison awaiting a scheduled 5 May criminal trial on racketeering and sex trafficking charges.
He still faces dozens of other civil lawsuits by women and men who have accused him of sexual assault and other misconduct.
Combs has pleaded not guilty in the criminal case and has maintained his innocence in all the cases.
