Entertainment
Jay-Z’s Rape Accuser Files Motion to Dismiss His Defamation Lawsuit Against Her

The woman who accused Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter of sexually assaulting her in 2000 is now asking a judge to dismiss the rapper’s lawsuit against her.
The woman, identified in court docs obtained by PEOPLE as Jane Doe, alleged in a December 2024 complaint that Jay-Z and Sean “Diddy” Combs raped her at an MTV Video Music Awards afterparty when she was 13 years old.
Though Doe’s attorneys voluntarily dismissed the case in February, Jay-Z filed his own lawsuit against Doe and her legal team, Tony Buzbee and David Fortney, a month later. He sued Doe and her lawyers, alleging malicious prosecution, abuse of process, and civil conspiracy. He also sued Doe separately, alleging defamation. He claimed in his complaint that the initial allegations of rape against him were knowingly “false” and “malicious,” and Doe’s lawsuit was “strategically and tactically calculated” in an attempt to extort him.
On Tuesday, April 22, Doe filed a motion to dismiss Jay-Z’s lawsuit, alleging that he “fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted.”
Her attorneys argued in the motion that Jay-Z’s malicious prosecution claim fails short since he alleges “the […] lawsuit was initiated and prosecuted for malicious reasons, not that any process was wrongfully used after issuance.”
“Carter has not alleged facts that would support an abuse of process claim,” the motion states.
The filing says the civil conspiracy claim against the accuser should also be dismissed as her lawyers “have shown that, as attorneys, they are not liable for civil conspiracy under these allegations.”
“Since a conspiracy requires more than one party, Doe cannot be liable for civil conspiracy,” the motion continues.
Doe requests that the defamation claim against her be dismissed, stating that the allegations in her complaint and comments to the media are “absolutely privileged” under California law “and cannot form the basis for a defamation claim.”
Doe’s motion further claims that based on Jay-Z’s own allegations in his complaint, he was not damaged by any potentially defamatory statements, because he alleged that an NBC News piece “disproved” Doe’s claims and and because he claimed that “[n]o person of ordinary care and prudence” would have believed that Carter sexually assaulted Doe.”
In his filing, Jay-Z alleged Doe’s “frivolous” lawsuit caused him “to suffer actual and special damages, including, but not limited to, harm to his personal and professional reputation, harm to his business entity, Roc Nation—which resulted in his business suffering substantial losses in excess of $20 million—out-of-pocket loss, and emotional harm, humiliation, and harassment.”
Jay-Z is seeking assumed, actual and punitive damages.
PEOPLE reached out to Jay-Z, Doe and Buzbee for comment.
Jay-Z’s attorney Alex Spiro previously addressed the rapper’s decision to sue Doe and her attorneys, telling Good Morning America in March, “The truth had to fully come out. This person cannot be allowed to sort of hide from the reality that this was a false accusation.”
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Spiro also addressed a recording purported to be Doe denying that Jay-Z ever sexually assaulted her, and that Buzbee “pushed” her to name Jay-Z.
“She says in no uncertain terms, Mr. Carter did not do this,” Spiro said last month. “It is effectively a lie and the only reason Mr. Carter is even involved in this was because she was pushed to involve him, pushed to include him by a lawyer.”
Buzbee responded, telling GMA that Spiro’s claims were a “blatant lie.”
Entertainment
Michael Bublé to Return to ‘The Voice’ for Third Season as Coach (Exclusive)

NEED TO KNOW
- Michael Bublé will return to The Voice this fall
- This makes him one of the only artists in recent years to be a coach for more than two consecutive seasons
- “This is the best job I’ve ever had. Going to work every day is a joy, and I’m so thrilled to be back for Season 28,” Bublé tells PEOPLE exclusively
Michael Bublé is stepping into the role of coach for The Voice once again!
On Monday, May 12, NBC is announcing that the Canadian musician, 49, will be returning to the singing competition show this fall for his third season — making him one of the only artists in recent years to be a coach for more than two consecutive seasons.
“This is the best job I’ve ever had. Going to work every day is a joy, and I’m so thrilled to be back for Season 28,” Bublé tells PEOPLE exclusively. “I remember being just like these contestants. I know how badly they want it and how hard it is to get there. I’ve had my dream come true, and the fact that I get to be a part of helping someone else in their journey to do that same thing, there’s nothing better. It is really fulfilling.”
He continues, “There’s a reason why The Voice remains such a success after so many years, and it’s because it really is about the artists. The talent on this show is incredible, and it’s been such a beautiful experience to be a part of the process.”
Bublé began as a coach on The Voice season 26 in 2024 alongside Gwen Stefani, Reba McEntire and Snoop Dogg, and he previously served as an advisor before that. The first-ever contestant he coached, Sofronio Vasquez, took home grand place that year, making him the first Filipino singer to win the US version of The Voice.
After Bublé’s first-ever blind audition experience that year, the “Feeling Good” crooner told NBC that it wasn’t “what I’m best at.”
“It’s hard to advocate for yourself in that way. And when I did, I tried to do it with humor, to be self-deprecating and to hope that you could break down barriers that way,” he shared following the end of the season. “It would have been harder for me, I think in other seasons where there was a different energy, like more of an edge of Coaches kind of fighting each other. But I was trying to be genuine, to tell people that I might be able to help them, and use humor, again, just to break down those walls. Because my dad always said: If you’re good, you don’t have to tell people.”
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The Grammy winner previously shared in September last year during an appearance on Today that he was approached to do the show over 15 times before he finally said yes.
Part of the reason he turned it down was because he didn’t want the pressure of judging other vocalists. “But thank God we’re not judges. The other shows have judges — we are coaches,” he said at the time.
“And the reason I say that is because most of the singers are better than me, and I have no place ever judging anyone,” he added. “So, to get to coach them and live the fantasy of having this career that I’ve had and then get to have the fulfillment of helping someone else get that? That’s the cool part.”
Trae Patton/NBC via Getty
In February, Bublé joined the series for season 27 as a coach for the second time, alongside John Legend, Adam Levine, and Kelsea Ballerini. As of last week, Bublé still has two team members left as they advance to the next round of live shows — Jadyn Cree and Adam David.
Just last month, Bublé sung the praises of Cree, after she took the stage with her fellow Team Bublé contestant Braxton Garza and sang “Danny’s Song” for the battle round.
After the performance, each coach offered feedback for both contestants — and Bublé told her that her performance was “flawless.”
“Jadyn, I don’t think you know how great you are. You could win this show, for sure,” he told the contestant.
During a one-on-one interview after the decision, Bublé called Jadyn a “superstar.”
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“Not only do I see Jadyn fitting in with the big pop stars of today, Olivia [Rodrigo], Billie Eilish, but she has that spark, that thing that we cannot articulate or explain,” he said. “Part of it is that I think she’s truly humble.”
Bublé tells PEOPLE, “I won last season, and I’m back to win it again next week. Let’s go for three in a row!”
The Voice airs Mondays at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.
Entertainment
Bikini-clad Jennifer Lopez lets loose on the beach

Feelin’ so good.
Jennifer Lopez shared a carefree video of herself frolicking on the beach to celebrate wrapping her upcoming Netflix rom-com, “Office Romance.”
The “Let’s Get Loud” singer was seen in a bikini top and pink maxi skirt as she happily twirled around on the sand.
“That FREE feeling… it’s a wrap ✨ #OfficeRomance,” she captioned the post on Instagram Sunday.
Lopez, 55, stars in the forthcoming flick with “Ted Lasso” star Brett Goldstein.
The “Hustlers” star didn’t confirm exactly where the upbeat beach video was recorded, but she did post a Mother’s Day message from the Dominican Republic earlier in the day.
“A most beautiful Mother’s Day to all the mamas out there 🌸 Wishing everyone love, laughter, peace, joy and happiness 🌻,” J.Lo wrote in the caption.
She appeared to be in a vacation destination as she posed in a gingham sundress while wearing a straw hat and holding a crochet bag.
The Grammy nominee’s photo carousel also included shots of her Mother’s Day flowers, presumably from her two kids, Max and Emme.
Lopez’s posts from her downtime came after she teased how she was getting ready for summer.
Last week, the “Maid in Manhattan” star showed off her toned abs in a gray cropped sweatshirt and forest green high-waist Alo Yoga leggings ($118).
“Push today so you glow tomorrow… 💪✨,” she captioned the carousel on Instagram.
She accessorized her sporty look with a coordinating dark green New York Yankees hat ($34), white sneakers, oversized sunglasses and big hoops.
Entertainment
Linda Evangelista Marks Milestone 60th Birthday with Stylish N.Y.C. Outing: Photo

NEED TO KNOW
- Linda Evangelista celebrated her milestone 60th birthday on May 10
- The supermodel marked the milestone birthday with a stylish outing in New York City a day later on May 11
- Evangelista has spoken candidly about aging and getting older in various interviews in recent years
Linda Evangelista is celebrating a new decade in style.
The supermodel turned 60 on Saturday, May 10, and she marked the milestone birthday with a stylish outing in New York City a day later on Sunday, May 11.
Evangelista — who made a name for herself in the modeling world alongside Christy Turlington, Cindy Crawford and Naomi Campbell, where they were collectively known as “The Supers” — kept things classically cool, wearing an oversized suit with a colorful T-shirt underneath.
She accessorized her look with matching black shoes and a pair of brown glasses, as she held onto her phone while walking near a set of stairs.
Evangelista also celebrated Mother’s Day. She reposted a tribute her 18-year-old son Augustin James made for her on her Instagram Stories, which featured a throwback photo of the mother-son pair on the jumbotron at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
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Diggzy/Jesal / BACKGRID
In Vogue‘s 2023 September Issue, Evangelista, then 58, got candid about aging, admitting that she “never did mind” getting older because it “gets us to where we want to be, and that’s for me a long life.” She also said that she wants to “stick around” to watch her son grow older
And as for the wrinkles? Evangelista approached the subject with candor, saying that she does “want wrinkles” despite how “hypocritical” that may be since she uses Botox.
In recent years, Evangelista has opened up about the additional changes to her image.
During an October 2023 appearance on The View, she made statements about her mastectomy scars from procedures she endured when she had breast cancer.
“I’m okay with scars,” the model said. “I think scars are trophies. I’m good with scars.”
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Noam Galai/Getty
Elsewhere, in a Harper’s Bazaar cover story published on April 24, Evangelista shared how she’s been dealing with the aftermath of her CoolSculpting procedure that left her “disfigured,” 10 years later.
“I have to go through therapy to like what I see when I look in the mirror, and I still don’t look in the mirror. I didn’t want to see myself because I didn’t love myself or like myself,” she shared. “I’m doing the work, and I’m trying to get to the place where I like myself, flaws and all, and trying to love myself.”
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty
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Still, in recent years, she has not let her setbacks keep her from showing her glow. In 2024, Evangelista made an elegant return to the Met Gala. It was her first time at the event since 2015.
For her big moment, she rocked a draped Catherine Holstein gown that felt indelibly her. “I wear a lot of Khaite in my real life,” she explained to Vogue. “I’m really, really, really happy.”
Evangelista made her most recent red carpet appearance days before her birthday. On April 30, she and Augustin (whose father is Kering CEO François-Henri Pinault) stepped out — and coordinated in black suiting — for a rare public outing together at the National Breast Cancer Coalition Host NYC Gala.
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