According to court records filed today, the woman who accused hip-hop moguls Sean “Diddy” Combs and Jay-Z of sexual assault has dropped her civil lawsuit.
The lawsuit, which had sent shockwaves through the music industry, claimed that the two stars assaulted her when she was just 13 years old during a party following the MTV Video Music Awards in September 2000.
The legal document submitted to the US District Court for the Southern District of New York stated that the accuser “hereby gives notice that the above-captioned action is voluntarily dismissed, with prejudice.” This legal jargon means that the lawsuit cannot be refiled, effectively closing the door on this particular case.
While the details surrounding the dismissal remain murky, it is unclear whether a settlement was reached between the parties involved. The woman, who has chosen to remain anonymous, has not provided any further comments on the matter.
Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, expressed relief at the case’s closure, labeling the allegations as “frivolous, fictitious, and appalling.”
The 55-year-old billionaire took to social media to voice his thoughts, stating,
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, loved ones, and I have endured can never be dismissed.
The original complaint alleged that both Diddy and Jay-Z took turns assaulting the plaintiff while another celebrity looked on, with the document claiming that “many others were present at the after party, but did nothing to stop the assault.”
In a separate legal battle, Sean Combs is facing serious charges of sex trafficking and racketeering.
Federal prosecutors allege that he sexually abused women and coerced them into drug-fueled sex parties through threats and violence. Combs, also 55, has denied all charges, and his criminal trial is set to begin on May 5, 2025.
