A lawsuit filed against Sean “Diddy” Combs and Jay-Z, which accused them of the 2000 rape of a 13-year-old girl, has been dismissed, according to legal documents submitted on Friday in New York.
The anonymous plaintiff, referred to as Jane Doe, voluntarily withdrew the case, as shown in the court records. The filing, made by attorney Tony Buzbee, who represents multiple plaintiffs in similar sexual misconduct lawsuits against Combs, states that the case has been dismissed “with prejudice,” meaning it cannot be refiled in its current form.
In response, Roc Nation, Jay-Z’s entertainment company, issued a statement signed by the rapper, declaring the dismissal a “victory.”
“The frivolous, fictitious, and appalling allegations have been dismissed,” Jay-Z wrote. “This civil suit was without merit and never had a chance. The fictional story created was laughable, if not for the seriousness of the claims.”
He went on to emphasize the emotional toll the situation had taken on his family, including his wife, Beyoncé, and children. “The trauma my loved ones and I have endured can never be dismissed,” he added. “The courts must protect the innocent from being falsely accused.”
Jay-Z’s attorney, Alex Spiro, also issued a statement, saying the case “never should have been brought” and praised Jay-Z for not backing down. “By standing up to these heinous and false allegations, Jay-Z triumphed and cleared his name,” Spiro said. “He never settled, never paid a cent, and pushed back against these claims.”
Jane Doe initially filed the lawsuit against Combs in October, later adding Jay-Z’s name in December. She claimed both men assaulted her after an MTV Video Music Awards afterparty in 2000. Jay-Z strongly denied the allegations, revealing that his attorney had received a “blackmail” attempt aimed at forcing a settlement. He said this only strengthened his resolve to publicly challenge the accusations.
In December, Jane Doe’s credibility was questioned when she admitted in an interview that some of her facts were unclear and acknowledged she might have made a mistake in identifying the men involved. In response, Jay-Z formally requested the court dismiss the lawsuit, citing inconsistencies in the accuser’s story. The court granted his request, and the case was dismissed by United States District Judge Analisa Torres.
Although Jay-Z is no longer facing legal action in this matter, Combs still faces numerous other civil suits. In response to the dismissal, his legal team issued a statement affirming his innocence.
“For months, we’ve seen case after case filed by anonymous individuals, pushed by an attorney more interested in media attention than legal merit,” the statement said. “This claim, like the others, will fall apart because it is untrue.”
Combs remains in custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York, on federal criminal charges related to racketeering and sex trafficking. He has been denied bail three times and will remain in custody until his trial, set for May 2025.
