Jay-Z Demands Identity of Accuser, Accuses Her of Orchestrating 'Calculated' Shakedown.
Jay-Z has requested a federal judge to compel his sexual assault accuser to disclose her identity, claiming that she is part of a “calculated” effort to extract an “exorbitant sum of money” from him.
Court documents reveal that the rapper, whose real name is Shawn Carter, responded to the woman’s request to keep her name confidential. The woman had previously filed a lawsuit against Diddy and other unnamed parties in October, alleging sexual assault at a VMAs afterparty in 2000, using the alias Jane Doe.
On December 8, she updated her lawsuit to include Jay-Z, 55, as one of the unnamed defendants, also accusing him of sexual assault at the same event. Jane had initially sought permission from the court to proceed without revealing her real name. The lawyer representing the accuser stated, “Identifying the plaintiff could lead to both physical and mental harm.” He added, “This lawsuit has attracted considerable media attention, and if the plaintiff’s identity is made public, it is highly likely she would face overwhelming unwanted media scrutiny, resulting in significant psychological distress.” In response, Jay-Z is urging the court to deny Jane’s request.
P. Diddy, Beyoncé and Jay-Z
His attorney stated, “For several months, a manipulative campaign has been aimed at Jay-Z from the shadows. This scheme was both cynical and designed to coerce him into paying an outrageous amount of money — Jay-Z would be forced to pay X millions regardless of the actual truth, or face consequences.”
The musician’s lawyer went on, “When Jay-Z chose not to pay and instead took steps to prove his innocence, this unnamed Plaintiff and her self-serving attorney (who has been prominently featured in the media while claiming to represent her) went to great lengths to undermine a fair defense.
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However, those attempts ultimately failed.” Jay’s lawyer remarked, “Finally, the baseless and false accusations that fuel this extortion attempt are being examined in court—yet this Plaintiff continues to hide her identity as a Doe, remaining in the shadows.” Jay-Z has requested that the entire case be dismissed or that Jane disclose her identity. The rapper’s lawyer emphasized that Jay-Z has “established an impeccable reputation.”
He further stated, “Jay-Z has never faced accusations of, nor has he ever engaged in, any form of sexual misconduct.” He added, “Jay-Z should not have to defend himself under intense scrutiny against an accuser who remains hidden while making claims that suggest the alleged incidents occurred in front of witnesses who could easily disprove the plaintiff’s allegations if only her name were revealed.”
Jay-Z’s attorney stated, “The plaintiff has opted to file a lawsuit against Jay-Z under the pseudonym ‘Jane Doe.’ However, she has not provided any facts that would justify her avoiding the federal requirement that all parties must use their real names in court. In fact, the plaintiff’s claims do not demonstrate any of the ‘special circumstances’ that would permit her to proceed anonymously. On the contrary, her implausible allegations suggest that—unlike many cases of alleged sexual misconduct—she has already been seen by numerous witnesses, whose honest testimonies would be significantly enhanced by knowing her identity.” A ruling from the judge is still pending.
