Jay-Z denies anonymous court accusation that he raped girl in 2000

Hip-hop megastar Jay-Z has emphatically denied accusations in a lawsuit that he and fellow entertainer Sean “Diddy” Combs raped a 13-year-old lady greater than 20 years in the past.

The grievance was amended Sunday in U.S. District Court docket in New York so as to add Jay-Z as a defendant after initially being filed towards Combs in October. It alleges they “took turns assaulting the minor” at a celebration after the MTV Video Music Awards in 2000.

In a statement issued Sunday by Roc Nation, Jay-Z’s leisure firm, he assailed Tony Buzbee, the legal professional for the nameless accuser.

“These allegations are so heinous in nature that I implore you to file a legal grievance, not a civil one!” the assertion stated. “Whomever would commit such a criminal offense towards a minor ought to be locked away, would you not agree?”

The assertion referred to as the lawsuit’s claims “idiotic” and one thing that will be laughable “if not for the seriousness surrounding hurt to youngsters.”

“You might have made a horrible error in judgment in pondering that each one ‘celebrities are the identical,’” the assertion stated. “I’m not out of your world. I’m a younger man who made it out of the venture of Brooklyn. We don’t play all these video games. We’ve got very strict codes and honor. We defend kids. …”

Federal prosecutors charged Combs in September with crimes together with intercourse trafficking and racketeering. He has pleaded not responsible.

Buzbee, a Texas-based legal professional, has filed a number of lawsuits towards Combs since his arrest. The legal professional didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.

An anonymous celebrity sued Buzbee in Los Angeles County Superior Court docket in November, accusing the legal professional of threatening to “unleash totally fabricated and malicious allegations of sexual assault” if the movie star didn’t take part in a “confidential mediation.” The lawsuit stated Buzbee alleged the movie star raped “a number of minors, each female and male, who had been drugged at events hosted by Combs.”

On Sunday, Buzbee pushed again towards Jay-Z on social media: “Mr. Carter beforehand denied being the one who sued me and my agency. He filed his frivolous case underneath a pseudonym. … Since I despatched the letter on her behalf, Mr. Carter has not solely sued me, however he has tried to bully and harass me and this plaintiff. His conduct has had the alternative impression. She is emboldened. I’m very pleased with her resolve.”

Instances workers author Richard Winton contributed to this report.