A judge has rejected Jay-Z's attempts to dismiss a lawsuit that accuses the renowned rapper, alongside Sean "Diddy" Combs, of raping a 13-year-old girl over two decades ago. The suit, initially filed in October, saw an anonymous woman, referred to only as "Jane Doe," bring charges against Combs for allegedly raping her at a party held after the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards. On December 8th, the complaint was updated to incorporate the accusation that Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, was not only present but also participated in the assault.
Jay-Z has categorically denied all allegations. His attorney, Alex Spiro, sought to dismiss the case after the Alabama woman acknowledged inconsistencies in her allegations in an NBC News report earlier this month. Last week, outside Roc Nation's New York headquarters, Spiro doubled down on his stance, expressing Jay-Z's frustration with the lawsuit and stating emphatically that "Mr. Carter has absolutely no involvement in Mr. Combs' case."
However, on Thursday, Judge Analisa Torres issued a written order denying Combs' bid to dismiss the suit. The judge also granted the woman accusing the two artists the right to proceed anonymously at this preliminary stage of the litigation, though she cautioned that she may be required to reveal her identity later if the case progresses.
Additionally, the judge批评了Carter的律师，称其提出的“对抗性动议”和针对原告律师的“煽动性言论”为不恰当之举。“Carter的律师不断提交对抗性动议，其中包含煽动性语言和人身攻击，这是不恰当的，浪费了司法资源，并且不太可能为其客户带来好处。法院不会仅仅因为律师的要求就加速司法程序，”Torres在裁定中部分写道。
Combs currently remains incarcerated in New York, awaiting a criminal trial on federal sex trafficking charges. He is also grappling with a multitude of other sexual assault lawsuits.
Following the judge's ruling, Tony Buzbee, Jane Doe's lawyer, penned a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, stating, "I don't usually comment on court rulings. However, I will say that the coordinated and desperate attempts to undermine me as the counsel for alleged victims are falling flat." The Hollywood Reporter has also reached out to Combs' attorney for comment.
