Jay-Z calls for rape accuser’s identity to be revealed or case dismissed
Jay-Z has asked for the identity of a woman who has accused him of raping her when she was 13 to be revealed, or for the case to be dismissed.
The accuser, who is identified only as “Jane Doe” (a US legal terms to say that she is anonymous), says the assault happened after the MTV Video Music Awards in 2000, allegedly alongside Sean “Diddy” Combs.
Jay-Z – whose real name is Shawn Carter – and Combs both deny the allegations.
In a court filing, seen by Sky’s US news partner NBC News, Jay-Z’s lawyer Alex Spiro argued the accuser’s decision to file a lawsuit under the name “Jane Doe” was “inconsistent with a genuine effort to determine the truth or falsity of these allegations as opposed to an effort to procure a quick, extortionate settlement”.
Mr Spiro said Jay-Z was “respectfully seeking either dismissal of the allegations or disclosure of the plaintiff’s identity”.
He went on: “It is not consistent with justice, fairness or the rules governing federal proceedings for the plaintiff and her counsel to smear [the] defendant’s good name in ways that are calculated to feed media coverage and thus inflict maximum public relations damage while the core fact of [the] plaintiff’s identity… remains wholly hidden from view.”
Texas-based lawyer Tony Buzbee, who says he is representing 120 accusers in cases against Combs, responded to Mr Spiro’s motion in an interview on Monday with NBC News.
Mr Buzbee said: “Anyone that suggests that a demand letter, especially the one that I sent, is extortion or blackmail, is foolish.
“These kinds of demand letters are sent on a daily basis across the United States, and attempting to attack me to take the focus off of the alleged perpetrator won’t work and it won’t intimidate us.”
The federal lawsuit against Jay-Z and Combs was re-filed in the Southern District of New York on Sunday. It had originally only named Combs.
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs was named alongside Carter in the lawsuit. Pic: AP
According to NBC News, the lawsuit claims the girl was dropped off at the VMAs at Radio City Music Hall by a friend – she did not have a ticket and approached various limousine drivers to try to gain access to the show or after party.
One driver allegedly told Doe he worked for Combs and she “fit what Diddy was looking for”. The driver later picked her up, the lawsuit says, and after 20 minutes she was dropped off at a white house. The girl was then made to sign a document she believed to be a non-disclosure agreement.
She was allegedly offered a drink that made her feel “woozy, lightheaded and felt [like] she needed to lie down”.
Shortly afterwards, the suit says, both Combs and Jay-Z entered the room, with Combs telling her: “You are ready to party!”
That’s when, she alleges, Jay-Z removed her clothes, held her down and raped her while Combs and an unnamed female celebrity watched. She says Combs also raped her as Jay-Z and the woman looked on.
After the alleged assault, she “grabbed her clothes” and ran to the nearest petrol station where she called her father.
She is seeking unspecified damages.
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What you need to know about Jay-Z allegations
Jay-Z responded to the allegations in a lengthy statement sent to NBC News.
He wrote: “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.”
Jay-Z and Beyonce at the premiere of Mufasa: The Lion King on Monday. Pic: Reuters
He went on: “My only heartbreak is for my family. My wife and I will have to sit our children down, one of whom is at the age where her friends will surely see the press and ask questions about the nature of these claims, and explain the cruelty and greed of people. I mourn yet another loss of innocence.
“Only your network of conspiracy theorists, fake physics, will believe the idiotic claims you have levied against me that, if not for the seriousness surrounding harm to kids, would be laughable,” he added.
Jay-Z has been married to Beyonce since 2008 after the couple met around 2000. They have three children together.
Read more:
What is Sean Combs accused of?
Jay-Z and Beyonce show united front after rape claim
Meanwhile, Combs has been charged by federal prosecutors in New York with racketeering, sex trafficking and other offences. He is in custody in Brooklyn and scheduled to go on trial on 5 May.
Lawyers for Combs have denied allegations of rape, sexual assault and misconduct, saying in a previous statement: “Mr Combs and his legal team have full confidence in the facts, their legal defences, and the integrity of the judicial process.
“In court, the truth will prevail: that Mr Combs has never sexually assaulted anyone – adult or minor, man or woman.”
Entertainment
Snoop Dogg becomes co-owner and investor of Swansea football club saying it’s ‘an underdog just like me’
Police are taking no further action over Kneecap’s performance at Glastonbury.
Officers said they had investigated “comments about a forthcoming court case made during Kneecap’s performance” at the festival on 28 June.
However, after Crown Prosecution Service advice, they decided there is not enough evidence “to provide a realistic prospect of conviction for any offence”.
The Avon & Somerset force started investigating the Irish group’s show last month, as well as comments by punk-rap duo Bob Vylan.
It said they were looking at a possible public order incident.
Police said on Friday that the investigation into Bob Vylan’s performance was ongoing.
The London duo were widely criticised – and caused a BBC crisis – after leading on-stage chants of “death to the IDF” (Israel Defence Forces).
Kneecap’s Liam Og O Hannaidh appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in June. Pic: PA
Kneecap posted a photograph on Instagram, which the group said was an email from police announcing the case was being dropped.
They said their packed Glastonbury gig was a “celebration of love and solidarity” and reporting used “wildly misleading headlines”.
Fears over what Kneecap might do or say during the performance had prompted the BBC not to show it live.
The group said: “Every single person who saw our set knew no law was broken, not even close… yet the police saw fit to publicly announce they were opening an investigation.”
“There is no public apology, they don’t send this to media or post it on police accounts,” they added.
The police statement on Friday said they had informed Kneecap of their decision to drop the case.
Read more from Sky News:
Snoop Dogg becomes a co-owner of Swansea FC
American Idol TV executive and husband shot dead
One of the group’s members appeared in court in June charged with a terror offence.
Liam Og O hAnnaidh is accused of displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah, a proscribed organisation in the UK, at a gig last year.
He was released on unconditional bail ahead of a second court appearance in August.
Entertainment
Tomorrowland: ‘Devastating’ blaze destroys main stage at major festival – two days before it was due to begin
A huge fire has destroyed the main stage of a major festival in Belgium – two days before it was due to begin.
Tomorrowland is a dance music event as big as Glastonbury – and David Guetta was due to perform.
Footage showed flames and thick plumes of black smoke engulfing the stage and spreading to nearby woodland on Wednesday.
The fire gutted the main stage
Fire crews attempt to bring the blaze under control
The annual festival in the town of Boom, north of Brussels, is one of the biggest in Europe and attracts about 400,000 people over two consecutive weekends.
It is famous for its immersive and elaborate designs and attracts big names within dance music – including Guetta, best known for tracks When Love Takes Over and Titanium.
Dutch DJs Martin Garrix and Charlotte de Witte were also due to perform, along with the likes of Swedish House Mafia, Eric Prydz and Alok.
Black smoke could be seen rising into the sky
The festival’s website described the creative elements which went into the elaborate main stage.
The theme, described as Orbyz, was “set in a magical universe made entirely out of ice” and “full of mythical creatures”.
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Organisers said no one was injured in the blaze but confirmed “our beloved main stage has been severely damaged”, adding they were “devastated”.
Spokesperson Debby Wilmsen added: “We received some truly terrible news today. A fire broke out on the Tomorrowland site … and our main stage was essentially destroyed there, which is truly awful.
“That’s a stage that took years to build, with so much love and passion. So I think a lot of people are devastated.”
Spokesperson Debby Wilmsen told reporters ‘a lot of people are devastated’
Despite the fire, Tomorrowland organisers said they were still expecting 38,000 festivalgoers at DreamVille, the event’s campsite.
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