Jay-Z lawyer dubs rape claim ‘demonstrably false’ as rapper fights back
17 December 2024, 02:54
Lawyer Alex Spiro said the claims rely on an ‘impossible timeline’ and a non-existent location.
A lawyer defending rapper Jay-Z in his fight against rape allegations has outlined a range of evidence to prove accusations levied against the hitmaker are “provably, demonstrably false”.
The woman, identified as Jane Doe in the lawsuit, told NBC News last week that Jay-Z, also known as Shawn Corey Carter, and Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs both sexually assaulted her when she was 13 at an after party for the 2000 MTV Music Awards.
She has since acknowledged certain inconsistencies in her claims made against the two men.
In a press conference at Jay-Z company Roc Nation’s New York headquarters, lawyer Alex Spiro said her claims rely on an “impossible timeline” and a non-existent location.
While the lawsuit said the assault happened at a “large white residence with a U-shaped driveway,” photos show both Jay-Z and Combs at a nightclub following the award show.
In the suit, the woman said she snuck out of a window of her home in Rochester and hitched a ride to the award ceremony from a friend, who has since died.
She said she watched the event on a big screen outside, then befriended a limousine driver who drove her to the house party where she was assaulted by the two rap moguls.
She said she fled the house and called her father for a ride home from a nearby gas station.
The allegation, Mr Spiro claims, “defies credibility”.
Mr Spiro said alleged discrepancies in her claims include a five-hour drive from Rochester, permits and photographs that show there was no big screen outside the VMAs in the year 2000.
The woman’s father has also said he has no recollection of driving from Rochester to pick her up in New York.
“It’s not just that this story is a lie and that it’s not true, it’s provably, demonstrably false,” Mr Spiro said. “This never happened.”
The suit comes amid a wave of sexual assault lawsuits against Combs, who remains in custody in New York awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.
He has pleaded not guilty and faces trial in May.
The lawsuits were filed on the eve of the expiration of the Adult Survivors Act, a New York law permitting victims of sexual abuse a one-year window to file civil action regardless of the statute of limitations.
After initially suing Combs, the woman’s complaint was amended to include a new allegation that Jay-Z also participated in the sexual assault as a third unnamed celebrity watched.
The litigation was filed by Tony Buzbee, a personal injury lawyer in Houston, whose firm has set up a toll-free phone line for accusers.
In October, Mr Buzbee said he was representing 120 people, men and women, with allegations of sexual misconduct against Combs.
Last month, Jay-Z anonymously sued Buzbee, alleging the lawyer had attempted to blackmail him by making the rape allegation public if he did not agree to a legal settlement.
Mr Buzbee pushed back against claims made against him by the rapper, stating the blackmail in question was a letter offering to set up a confidential mediation session.
In a statement last week, Jay-Z said his “heart and support goes out to true victims in the world”.
On Monday, Mr Spiro accused Mr Buzbee of “taking advantage” of the woman, while “destroying this opportunity and the voices of real victims”.
In an email statement Monday, Mr Buzbee said the woman had been referred to him by another law firm and pre-vetted by four lawyers from his firm.
“Courts exist to resolve factual disputes,” Mr Buzbee added.
“Our client remains adamant about her claim.”
