Africa-Press – Seychelles. Jay-Z’s attorney has made his first public statement regarding allegations that the rapper, along with Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, was involved in the sexual assault of a 13-year-old girl 24 years ago.
Earlier this month, an updated complaint in a civil case against Combs alleges that Jay-Z, whose name is Shawn Carter, and Combs raped the girl at an after-party following the MTV Video Music Awards in September of 2000.
Jay-Z had been initially identified in the complaint as “Celebrity A”.
Attorney Alex Spiro addressed the press about the allegations against his client in a briefing held on Monday at the Roc Nation Office in New York.
According to CNN, Spiro stated, “These allegations are entirely fictional. We anticipate the case will be dismissed, and if it isn’t, we believe it will ultimately fall apart.”
Spiro reportedly presented a PowerPoint to the reporters detailing the timeline of the lawsuit’s allegations, which he claims are demonstrably false.
The media address from Jay-Z’s lawyer follows an interview with NBC News in which the complainant, identified as Jane Doe, acknowledged inconsistencies in her initial account, including key corroborating witnesses. However, she continues to maintain her rape accusation against Carter.
Spiro further said that Jay-Z was ‘upset’ about the allegations against him.
“He’s upset that somebody would be allowed to do this, to make a mockery of the system like this. He’s upset that this distracts and dissuades real victims from coming forward. He’s upset that his kids and his family have to deal with this. He’s upset. And he should be upset.”
Spiro added that Jay-Z and Combs had a purely professional relationship and distanced his client from Comb’s legal battles.
“Mr Carter has nothing to do with Mr Combs’ case or Mr Combs’s. They knew each other professionally for a number years, just like in all professions. There is no closer association between any of them. That’s also a matter of fiction. That’s all that there is. He doesn’t know anything about the charges or allegations against him. He has nothing to do with that case and there’s nothing more to say.”
The 55-year-old has not addressed the accusations himself. A statement published on X by his label Roc Nation on 9 December reads: “These allegations are so heinous in nature that I implore you to file a criminal complaint, not a civil one! Whomever would commit such a crime against a minor should be locked away, would you not agree? These alleged victims would deserve real justice if that were the case.”
That following Monday, Jay-Z appeared alongside wife Beyoncé, daughter Blue Ivy and mother-in-law Tina Knowles at the Mufasa premiere in Los Angeles.
Beyoncé reprises her role as the voice of Nala, while the couple’s 12-year-old daughter makes her film debut as the voice of lioness cub Kiara.
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