Jay-Z: Accuser retracts sexual assault allegations

A woman who previously accused rapper Jay-Z, born Shawn Carter, of sexual assault has retracted her allegations. In a 12-page statement filed in a Manhattan federal court, the plaintiff, identified as Jane Doe, stated under penalty of perjury that Carter never assaulted her and that she has never met or spoken with him.

While the woman maintains that she was a victim of sexual assault, her attorney, J. Blair Newman, clarified that she was “entirely wrong” in identifying Jay-Z as one of the perpetrators. The woman expressed sincere apologies to Carter, his family, and his wife, Beyoncé, for the “immense pain, suffering, and damage” caused by the false accusations.

The legal dispute originated in 2024 when the plaintiff filed a civil lawsuit against Sean “Diddy” Combs, later adding Jay-Z to the complaint. The allegations claimed an assault occurred at a party following the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards when the plaintiff was 13 years old. Jay-Z had consistently denied the claims, describing them as an attempt at extortion.