A woman known as Jane Doe has formally withdrawn her allegations against rapper Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, saying her claims against him were false. In a declaration filed in court, she stated that she had never met or spoken with Carter and that he had never engaged in inappropriate conduct toward her. The woman had previously filed a lawsuit in 2024 alleging that she had been drugged and raped by Jay-Z and Sean “Diddy” Combs at a party following the MTV Video Music Awards in 2000.
The woman, Jane Doe, had alleged that Carter and Combs raped her while another celebrity watched, but she now says this claim is false. She also stated that she understood her accusations had caused Carter significant pain and damage. The woman's decision to withdraw her allegations comes after Carter filed a lawsuit against her and her former lawyers. Carter's lawyer had previously denied the allegations, describing the civil claims as cases being pursued for media attention rather than legal merit.
According to the woman's declaration, she responded to a Facebook advertisement in September or October 2024 seeking people who might have sexual assault claims against Combs. This advertisement triggered memories of an alleged rape when she was 13, and she was subsequently contacted by a law firm. However, she claimed she was not shown a draft of the lawsuit containing the allegations and did not authorise it before it was filed in October 2024.
The woman also alleged that her lawyers, including attorney Tony Buzbee, filed the lawsuit without conducting an independent investigation or obtaining corroborating evidence. Buzbee represents several other people who have made allegations against Combs. He told Rolling Stone that he had not seen the woman's new declaration and that several lawyers had heard the same account from her before she became his client.
The woman rejected an earlier claim that Carter's investigators had threatened or harassed her in an effort to make her withdraw her allegations. She stated that she never received any threat from Carter or anyone acting on his behalf. Combs had also denied the allegations, and his lawyer previously described the civil claims as cases being pursued for media attention rather than legal merit.
In July 2025, Combs was convicted on federal prostitution-related charges involving two former girlfriends and was sentenced to four years in prison. The woman has since been removed from Carter's lawsuit, while the rapper is continuing his legal action against her former lawyers. Carter's decision to pursue legal action against her former lawyers suggests that he will continue to defend his reputation against false allegations.
The withdrawal of the allegations against Jay-Z brings an end to a lengthy and complex case. The woman's declaration has significant implications for the ongoing lawsuits against Combs and others. Key points include:
Key points
- The woman, Jane Doe, has formally withdrawn her allegations against Jay-Z.
- She stated that her claims against him were false and that she had never met or spoken with him.
- The case highlights the complexities of allegations of sexual assault and the challenges of verifying claims.
