With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today .
Woman drops suit accusing Sean 'Diddy' Combs and Jay-Z of raping her when she was 13
Jay-Z attends the Los Angeles premiere of Sony Pictures' <em>The Book Of Clarence</em> at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on Jan. 5, 2024.
(
Monica Schipper
/
WireImage
)
The woman who accused Jay-Z and Sean "Diddy" Combs of raping her when she was 13 years old has dropped her lawsuit against both men.
Court records show that a notice of voluntary dismissal against all defendants was submitted on Friday. It was dismissed "with prejudice," meaning the plaintiff cannot re-file a suit.
It comes less than four months after the suit was initially filed. The suit included disturbing details of how the woman was allegedly lured by a limousine driver outside the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards and assaulted by the two rappers at an after-party.
Attorneys for the woman, identified in the lawsuit as "Jane Doe," did not disclose the reason for withdrawing the complaint, according to court records. They declined to comment Saturday.
Support for LAist comes from
Jay-Z — whose real name is Shawn Carter — has strongly denied the claims and his attorneys had been seeking to get the case dismissed. In a statement on Saturday, Carter said the claims were "frivolous, fictitious and appalling" and called the suit a "money-grab."
"I would not wish this experience on anyone. The trauma that my wife, my children, my loved ones and I have endured can never be dismissed," he said.
Combs currently faces several lawsuits alleging physical assault, rape and other misconduct. He is currently held in a New York City jail awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
On Saturday, Combs' attorneys said the suit dropped on Friday will be the "first of many that will not hold up in a court of law."
"Sean Combs has never sexually assaulted or trafficked anyone—man or woman, adult or minor. No number of lawsuits, sensationalized allegations, or media theatrics will change that reality," Combs' legal team said in a statement.
In December, the woman, who remained anonymous, did an interview with NBC News, sharing that she is now a 38-year-old mother in Alabama. She told NBC that she had stayed quiet about the alleged assault for over two decades because she did not think anyone would believe her.
In her account, the woman said the assault took place on the night of the 2000 VMAs when she was 13. She was standing outside the awards show in Radio City Music Hall in New York City when she met a limousine driver who claimed to work for Combs, according to the suit and interview with NBC.
Support for LAist comes from
The driver took her to an "after-party" where she took a drink served by a waitress and felt lightheaded, the woman alleged. She looked for a room to lie down in, and Combs, Carter and an unnamed woman followed. The suit alleged Carter raped her first, then Combs, while the woman watched.
Carter's attorneys have argued that the woman's allegations contained a number of inconsistencies, including that they were unable to find the location of the after-party, which the woman described as a large white house with a gated U-shaped driveway about a 20-minute drive from Radio City Music Hall.
Carter's attorneys have also pointed to NBC News reporting that musician Benji Madden — who the woman claimed was at the after-party — was on tour in the Midwest at the time.
According to court records, Combs' trial for sex trafficking and racketeering charges is scheduled to begin in May.
Copyright 2025 NPR
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
Immigration raids have caused some U.S. citizens to carry their passports to the store, to school or to work. But what documents to have on you depends on your citizenship. -
The historic properties have been sitting vacant for decades and were put on the market as-is, with prices ranging from $750,000 to $1.75 million. -
Users of the century old Long Beach wooden boardwalk give these suggestions to safely enjoy it. -
The Newport Beach City Council approved a new artificial surf park that will replace part of an aging golf course. -
The utility, whose equipment is believed to have sparked the Eaton Fire, says payouts could come as quickly as four months after people submit a claim. But accepting the money means you'll have to forego any lawsuits. -
The City Council will vote Tuesday on a proposal to study raising the pay for construction workers on apartments with at least 10 units and up to 85 feet high.
Best of LAist