A lawsuit accusing Jay-Z and Sean 'Diddy' Combs of raping a minor in 2000 was dismissed on February 14, but the rapper says the impact has already been devastating.
Ten weeks after publicly condemning what he called 'false and heinous' allegations, Jay-Z is now revealing the financial and emotional toll the lawsuit has taken on him.
The rapper, who has built a multimillion-dollar empire in music, sports, and entertainment, claims the now-dismissed lawsuit has cost him at least $20 million in lost revenue.
The lawsuit, filed by an anonymous plaintiff known as Jane Doe, accused the 24-time Grammy winner of raping her when she was 13 years old at an afterparty for the MTV Video Music Awards in 2000. She also alleged that Sean 'Diddy' Combs drugged and assaulted her the same night.
The case was initially filed against Combs but was later amended in December to include Jay-Z.
However, on February 14, Doe voluntarily dismissed the case with prejudice, meaning she could not refile it. She admitted that 'not all the facts are clear' regarding her recollection of that night.
Just days before the dismissal, Jay-Z took legal action against her attorney, Tony Buzbee, and The Buzbee Law Firm, filing a declaration in an LA court outlining the impact of the lawsuit on his business and personal life.
Jay-Z, with wife Beyoncé, has filed a court document against Tony Buzbee and his law firm Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
The six-page court filing details how the accusations—though later withdrawn—created a storm of controversy that affected his reputation, his family, and his business ventures.
Jay-Z wrote in the filing: "Mr. Buzbee's actions undermined my relationship, and my company Roc Nation's relationship, with other businesses in the sports and entertainment space. We have agreements to produce entertainment programs for certain sporting events."
He went on to claim that the media fallout put significant pressure on his professional relationships, saying: "After Mr. Buzbee filed the lawsuit, the media reported that other businesses could end their deals with Roc Nation, and forced one to speak out and address whether these false allegations would end our business relationship."
Jay-Z was criticized for attending his daughter Blue Ivy Carter's premiere of 'Mufasa: The Lion King' LISA O'CONNOR/AFP via Getty Images
He further stated that the false allegations directly impacted his company Roc Nation, leading to major financial setbacks.
"Immediately after Mr. Buzbee went public with his false accusations, my company Roc Nation also lost other contracts in the sports and entertainment space that would have generated revenues of approximately $20 million per year."
The rapper also shared how the controversy spilled over into his personal life, resulting in a wave of backlash and threats. He said that the lawsuit unfairly cast a shadow over a milestone moment for his family—his daughter Blue Ivy’s premiere of Mufasa: The Lion King.
"I feel that Mr. Buzbee purposely filed this lawsuit on the eve of my daughter's premiere to put me in the position of having to choose between supporting my daughter or hiding to avoid the negative press coverage,"
Meanwhile, Sean 'Diddy' Combs is still facing serious legal trouble.
The music mogul was indicted by a grand jury following his arrest at the Park Hyatt hotel in Manhattan last September.
Combs has been charged with racketeering and sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion. He continues to deny all charges.
The indictment alleges that Combs and his associates used his business empire to manipulate, intimidate, and lure women into exploitative situations.
Prosecutors claim he transported sex workers across state lines and internationally, then used force, threats, and coercion to involve them in what he referred to as 'freak offs.'
If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual violence, you can reach out for confidential support through The National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800.656.HOPE (4673), available 24/7. Online support is also available via online.rainn.org.
