Jay-Z accuser recants rape allegation in court declaration

A woman who accused Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, of raping her when she was 13 has formally withdrawn her allegations, saying they were false and that she had never met or spoken to the rapper. The woman, identified as Jane Doe in court documents, made the statement in a 12-page declaration filed in Manhattan federal court.

Claims Against Carter Declared False

In the declaration, the woman said Carter never raped her or engaged in inappropriate conduct toward her. She also said there was no truth to her previous claims that Carter and Sean “Diddy” Combs had sexually assaulted her while another celebrity watched.

Lawsuit Filed in 2024

The woman originally filed a lawsuit in October 2024 alleging that Combs and Carter had sexually assaulted her at an afterparty following the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards. Carter was initially identified as an unnamed celebrity before being added to the case in December 2024. Both men denied the allegations.

Case Was Dropped in 2025

Jane Doe voluntarily dismissed her lawsuit against Carter and Combs in early 2025 after acknowledging inconsistencies in her account. Carter subsequently pursued legal action against the woman and her former lawyers, including attorney Tony Buzbee.

No Payment for New Declaration

In her latest filing, the woman said she had not received money from Carter or anyone acting on his behalf in exchange for the declaration. She also said she had never been threatened by Carter or anyone representing him.

Lawyers Face New Questions

The woman accused the lawyers who represented her of filing the original lawsuit without conducting sufficient independent investigation or obtaining corroborating evidence. She said the complaint was filed without her reviewing or authorising the final version.

Buzbee Disputes Account

Buzbee told Rolling Stone that he had not seen the woman’s new declaration. He said several lawyers had dealt with her before he became involved and that she had given them the same account. He indicated that her latest claim that she had lied was new information to him.

Woman Says Memories Triggered Allegation

According to her declaration, the woman responded to a Facebook advertisement seeking people with sexual assault claims against Combs in September or October 2024. She said the advertisement triggered memories of being raped when she was 13, leading her to contact a law firm.

Doubts Emerged Later

The woman said she began questioning her allegations against Carter in January 2025. She also said she started doubting whether she had attended a celebrity party at all. Her declaration states that she subsequently told her lawyers about those doubts.

Carter’s Legal Battle Continues

The latest declaration comes as Carter continues his separate legal battle against Buzbee and his firm in New York. Carter has accused the lawyers of pursuing claims that were unsupported and damaging to his reputation. A separate California lawsuit brought by Carter against Buzbee was dismissed, with an appeals court upholding that decision earlier this month.

Combs Serving Prison Sentence

Sean Combs continues to serve a 50-month federal prison sentence following his 2025 conviction on two prostitution-related transportation charges. He has continued to deny the sexual assault allegations made against him by Jane Doe and other plaintiffs.