American rapper and businessman Jay-Z, born Shawn Carter, has publicly denounced a lawsuit that accuses him and fellow music mogul Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs of drugging and raping a 13-year-old girl at a party in 2000.
The explosive allegations have emerged against the backdrop of ongoing controversies surrounding both artists, with Combs currently imprisoned and awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges.
It is also reported that the anonymous accuser alleges that the assault took place at an MTV Video Music Awards after-party in New York City, during which an unnamed female celebrity was purportedly present.
Faced with these harrowing claims, Carter has maintained his innocence, claiming that the serious nature of the allegations constitutes a blackmail attempt instigated by a lawyer identified as Tony Buzbee.
In a detailed statement made public through social media, Jay-Z described the allegations as ‘heinous’ and implored Buzbee to take the matter to criminal court instead of pursuing a civil lawsuit.
“My lawyer received a blackmail attempt… What he had calculated was the nature of these allegations, and the public scrutiny would make me want to settle. No sir, it had the opposite effect," he declared.
“It made me want to expose you for the fraud you are in a VERY public fashion. So no, I will not give you ONE RED PENNY.’’
Jay-Z further stated, “These allegations are so heinous in nature that I implore you to file a criminal complaint, not a civil one. Whoever would commit such a crime against a minor should be locked away. He lamented the distress these allegations could bring to his family, especially to his children, as they navigate the cruel scrutiny of public opinion.
“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.
“Children should not have to endure such at their young age. It is unfair to have to try to understand inexplicable degrees of malice meant to destroy families and human spirit.
“My heart and support go out to true victims in the world, who have to watch how their life story is dressed in costume for profitability by this ambulance chaser in a cheap suit.
“You have made a terrible error in judgement thinking that all ‘celebrities’ are the same. I'm not from your world. I'm a young man who made it out of the projects of Brooklyn. We don't play these types of games. We have very strict codes and honour. We protect children; you seem to exploit people for personal gain. Only your network of conspiracy theorists and fake physicists will believe the idiotic claims you have levied against me that, if not for the seriousness surrounding harm to kids, would be laughable. I look forward to showing you just how different I am,” the statement read.
The Star