In a dramatic legal twist, high-profile attorney Tony Buzbee has officially dropped the sexual assault lawsuit against hip-hop moguls Jay-Z and Diddy. The explosive case, which alleged that the rap icons assaulted a 13-year-old girl back in 2000, has now been dismissed in a New York court, marking the end of a contentious legal battle that gripped the entertainment industry.
According to Variety, the lawsuit—brought forward by an anonymous plaintiff known as Jane Doe—was voluntarily dismissed by Buzbee and co-counsel Antigone Curis. In court documents obtained by Complex, the dismissal was filed with prejudice, meaning the case cannot be refiled.
Following the dismissal, Jay-Z’s camp wasted no time in addressing the matter. Roc Nation issued a strong statement on behalf of the rapper, celebrating the ruling while condemning the legal ordeal.
“Today is a victory. The frivolous, fictitious, and appalling allegations have been dismissed,” Jay-Z declared. “This civil suit was without merit and never going anywhere. The fictional tale they created was laughable, if not for the seriousness of the claims. I would not wish this experience on anyone. The trauma that my wife, my children, my loved ones and I have endured can never be dismissed.”
But the rap billionaire didn’t stop there. In a pointed critique of the legal system, he called out what he saw as a loophole allowing baseless accusations to tarnish reputations without consequence. “This 1-800 lawyer gets to file a suit hiding behind Jane Doe, and when they quickly realize that the money grab is going to fail, they get to walk away with no repercussions. The system has failed. The court must protect victims, OF COURSE, while with the same ethical responsibility, the courts must protect the innocent from being accused without a shred of evidence. May the truth prevail for all victims and those falsely accused equally.”
Jay-Z’s legal representative, Alex Spiro, echoed his client’s sentiments, calling the allegations “heinous and false.” Spiro applauded Jay-Z for standing firm in the face of the accusations. “The false case against JAY-Z, that never should have been brought, has been dismissed with prejudice,” Spiro stated. “By standing up in the face of heinous and false allegations, Jay has done what few can—he pushed back, he never settled, he never paid one red penny. He triumphed and cleared his name.”
The lawsuit initially surfaced in October, with Diddy as the sole defendant. Jay-Z’s name was added to the complaint several months later, with the accuser claiming that both artists had assaulted her after taking her to an MTV Video Music Awards afterparty. However, as the legal proceedings unfolded, inconsistencies in the woman’s account reportedly became apparent.
According to Variety, Jay-Z’s legal team swiftly moved to file a motion to dismiss, arguing that the claims lacked credibility. After securing permission from U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres, the case against him was dropped.
Main Image: USA Today
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