Woman accusing Jay-Z and Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs of sexual assault admits inconsistencies

A woman who accused the rappers Jay-Z and Sean “Diddy” Combs of sexually assaulting her when she was 13 at an awards party acknowledged some inconsistencies in her story, while her lawyer said he would continue to verify her claims.

The unnamed woman described being driven from Rochester, New York, to New York for the MTV Video Music Awards in 2000, and then Combs’ limo driver offered her a ride to a party, NBC News reported Friday . She claimed she spoke to musicians Benji Madden and his brother at the party and her father picked her up after the alleged attack.

But a rep for Madden confirmed to NBC that they were on tour in the Midwest during the VMAs, while her father said he doesn’t remember the more than five-hour drive home. The woman’s boyfriend who allegedly drove her to the awards has since died, NBC reported.

The woman sued Combs, alleging she was raped at a party, then amended the lawsuit on Sunday to include a new allegation that Jay-Z, whose legal name is Shawn Carter, was also at the party and attended the sex party. assault.

Jay-Z said in a statement that the article proves that Tony Buzbee, a personal injury attorney from Houston, filed a false complaint against him for money and fame.

“This incident didn’t happen and yet he took it to court and doubled down in the media,” he said. “True justice is coming. We fight FROM victory, not FOR victory. This is over before it starts. This 1-800 lawyer doesn’t realize it yet, but soon.”

Buzbee told The Associated in an email that if someone raises a new issue that didn’t exist before, his legal team’s job is to continue gathering facts and evidence.

Jay-Z’s attorney, Alex Spiro, asked the court to dismiss the case, saying in a statement: “It’s amazing that a lawyer would not only file such a serious complaint without proper vetting, but make matters worse by trafficking continuation of this fake. story in the press.”

The woman admitted she made “some mistakes” when recalling that night, but said she stood by her allegations.

Combs’ attorney, Teny R. Geragos, said in an emailed statement Saturday to The Associated Press: “Yesterday, an attorney acknowledged that more than 50 people falsely claimed to be victims. Today, for the second time this week, a Buzbee claimant has been exposed. This is the beginning of the end of this shameful money grab.”

The litigation is part of a wave of sexual assault processes charged against Combs, as the hip-hop mogul remains in custody in New York awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.

The unnamed woman said that while in the limo, she was asked to sign a confidentiality document. Once at the party, according to the lawsuit, she took a drink that left her feeling “dizzy and groggy” and went into a bedroom to lie down.

She said Combs and Jay-Z then entered the room, along with another unnamed celebrity, and raped her. The woman said she eventually escaped the room, ran out of the house and called for a ride from a nearby gas station.

Jay-Z, a 24-time Grammy Award-winning rapper, producer and music mogul, anonymously sued Buzbee last month, alleging that he was trying to blackmail the rapper by threatening to go public with the allegation of rape if she does not agree to a legal settlement. Jay-Z said Buzbee sent a letter to his lawyer that appears to be seeking a settlement, which had the “opposite effect” on him.

Buzbee previously said the idea that he tried to blackmail Jay-Z was “stupid and laughable” and his letter simply sought confidential mediation in the dispute.

Buzbee announced at a press conference in October that he is representing about 120 peoplemen and women with allegations of sexual misconduct against Combs.

His firm, which created a toll-free hotline for accusers, submission started a flurry of lawsuits against the hip-hop mogul a few weeks later.

Combs was denied bail third time last month. He pleaded not guilty allegations that he coerced and abused women for years and will be tried in May.

Attorneys for Combs did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment.

Jay-Z and Combs are part of a generation of hip-hop titans who rose to prominence in the 2000s, emerging as wide-ranging entrepreneurs and two of the world’s richest rappers. Earlier this year, Forbes estimated Jay-Z’s net worth at $2.5 billion.

The artists have collaborated over the years, with Jay-Z appearing on Combs’ debut album, “No Way Out,” and Combs appearing on Jay-Z’s second album, “In My Lifetime, Vol. 1.”

Although they are frequently photographed together at events, they have also been competitors in business. Diddy launched his Bad Boy Records around the same time Jay-Z launched his Roc-A-Fella label.

Hallie Golden, The Associated Press