A woman who accused rappers Jay-Z and Sean “Diddy” Combs of sexually assaulting her when she was 13 at an awards show after-party has acknowledged certain inconsistencies in her story.
The unnamed woman described being driven from Rochester, New York, to New York City for the MTV Video Music Awards in 2000 and then Combs’ limo driver offering her a ride to an after-party, NBC News reported on Friday.
She said she spoke with musicians Benji Madden and his brother at the party and her father picked her up after the alleged assault.
But a representative of the Maddens confirmed to NBC that they were on tour in the Midwest during the VMAs, while her father said he doesn’t remember the drive home of more than five hours. The woman’s friend who reportedly drove her to the awards has since died, NBC reported.
The woman had first sued Combs, alleging she was raped at an after-party, and then amended the lawsuit on Sunday to include a new allegation that Jay-Z, whose legal name is Shawn Carter, also was at the party and participated in the sexual assault.
Jay-Z said in a statement that the article proves Tony Buzbee, a personal injury lawyer in Houston, filed a false complaint against him for money and fame.
“This incident didn’t happen and yet he filed it in court and doubled down in the press,” he said.
“True Justice is coming. We fight FROM victory, not FOR victory. This was over before it began. 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 which didn’t previously exist, his legal team's job is to continue collecting facts and evidence.
Jay-Z’s lawyer, Alex Spiro, asked the court to dismiss the case, saying in a statement, “It is stunning that a lawyer would not only file such a serious complaint without proper vetting, but would make things worse by further peddling this false story in the press”.
The woman admitted to making “some mistakes” when recalling that night, but said she stands by her allegations.
Combs’ lawyer, Teny R Geragos, says the complaint is motivated by money.
"Yesterday, a lawyer admitted that over 50 people falsely claimed to be victims. Today, for the second time this week, a Buzbee plaintiff has been exposed," he said in a statement emailed to The Associated Press on Saturday.
"This is the beginning of the end of this shameful money grab.”
The litigation is part of a wave of sexual assault lawsuits levied 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 she was in the limousine, she was asked to sign a non-disclosure document. Once at the party, the lawsuit said, she took a drink that made her feel “woozy and lightheaded” and went into a bedroom to lie down.
She said Combs and Jay-Z then barged into the room, along with another unnamed celebrity, and raped her.
The woman said she eventually escaped the room, fled the house and called for a ride from a nearby gas station.
