A woman who accused American rapper Jay-Z of sexually assaulting her when she was 13 has now withdrawn those allegations, telling a court that she never met or spoke to the musician and that her claims against him were untrue.
The woman, whose identity has not been disclosed, had previously alleged that Jay-Z and Sean “Diddy” Combs assaulted her after the MTV Video Music Awards in September 2000. She filed a civil lawsuit against the two men in 2024 but later dropped the case in 2025.
In a recent court filing, the woman said she had never had any interaction with Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, and accepted that the allegations had caused him significant personal and reputational harm. Brandspur Brand News understands that her latest statement was submitted by Jay-Z’s legal team in connection with a counter-lawsuit that is now also being dismissed.
According to the court document, the woman said she became involved in the case after seeing a Facebook advertisement seeking people with sexual assault claims against Combs. She said the advert prompted memories of an alleged assault she experienced as a 13-year-old, after which she contacted a law firm.
She also told the court that she could not remember authorising lawyers to file the complaint against Jay-Z and Combs. Her decision to withdraw the lawsuit followed what she described as growing doubts about the allegations.
Jay-Z had strongly denied the accusation when it was first made, describing it as a fabricated account. The latest filing now records the accuser’s explicit denial that any inappropriate conduct involving Carter occurred.
The court document also indicates that the woman had experienced mental health difficulties, although portions of the filing have been redacted.
The development comes against the backdrop of numerous allegations against Combs in recent years. The music executive is currently serving a prison sentence for prostitution-related offences.
The woman’s latest statement effectively removes her allegation against Jay-Z from the civil proceedings and acknowledges that the accusation was false, bringing a significant turn in a case that had attracted widespread public attention.
