In a recording that has come to light, the woman who alleged she was just 13 years old when Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter and Sean "Diddy" Combs sexually assaulted her following the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards, is heard acknowledging that Jay-Z did not assault her. She further reveals that it was her lawyer who pressured her to file a lawsuit against Jay-Z. Notably, the lawsuit she initiated against Jay-Z and Combs has been dismissed with prejudice, rendering it irretrievable.
ABC News has obtained an excerpt of this recording, which captures a conversation between the woman, referred to as Jane Doe, and two private investigators affiliated with Carter. One of the investigators asks, "He was merely present, but he didn't engage in any sexual acts towards you, right?" Jane Doe responds, "Yeah."
Alex Spiro, Carter's attorney, firmly denies that Jay-Z has ever encountered Jane Doe. In the same recording, Jane Doe confides to the investigators that her lawyer, Tony Buzbee, encouraged her to pursue legal action against Jay-Z. Her voice resonates with reluctance as she states, "He was the one who sort of nudged me towards taking this step against Jay-Z."
"Did Buzbee really do that?" the investigators inquired, their tones laden with curiosity. "Yes," came the woman's unequivocal response. Buzbee promptly dismissed the accusation that he coerced her into filing a lawsuit against Jay-Z, branding it a "blatant lie."
"Regarding the assertion that I pressured Jane Doe to bring charges against Jay-Z—it is a blatant falsehood that stands in stark contrast to all available documentary evidence," Buzbee emphasized in a statement furnished to ABC News. Carter's attorney, Spiro, insisted that "the tape speaks volumes," leaving no room for doubt regarding his client's innocence.
"In no uncertain terms, Ms. Doe maintains that Mr. Carter did not commit this act. It's a deliberate fabrication, and the sole reason Mr. Carter is entangled in this mess is because she was pressured to implicate him," Spiro revealed in an exclusive interview with ABC News. Jane Doe, in a solemn affidavit, reiterated her stance, asserting that she had withdrawn her lawsuit due to "the fear of intimidation and retaliation from Jay-Z and his fervent fans."
She categorically denied informing the investigators that Buzbee had approached her as a potential client or urged her to pursue a frivolous claim against Jay-Z. She recounted feeling "intimidated and terrified" when confronted at her doorstep, noting that the investigators had prior knowledge of her identity and residence. Spiro clarified that the investigators who approached Jane Doe did so without employing coercion or threats.
"She met with them voluntarily, spoke her truth, and emphatically stated that Mr. Carter had nothing to do with it under any circumstances," Spiro clarified. Jay-Z, a global music sensation with sales exceeding 140 million albums, and his wife Beyoncé, parents to three children, have been deeply impacted by these allegations.
"It's agonizing to hear false accusations spread across the internet, casting aspersions on one's character and affecting one's children," Spiro lamented. "It's tough for anyone, but Jay proves his innocence through action. Hopefully, today marks the conclusive chapter of this saga, and they can move forward. That's what Jay does."
Carter has now initiated a defamation lawsuit against Jane Doe and Tony Buzbee, both of whom deny the allegations. "The truth must be unveiled in its entirety. This individual cannot be permitted to evade the reality of a false accusation," Spiro declared resolutely.
